JUNE 7, 2014. LAVISH GRACE

SATURDAY JUNE 7

“Forgiveness…in accordance with the riches of…grace.” Eph 1:7 NIV

LAVISH GRACE

Peter asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who does…wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: ‘Not…seven…but seventy-seven times!’” (Mt 18:21-22 CEV). But we shouldn’t stop there. If God gave each of us only seventy seven “forgiveness passes,” we’d be in trouble! You can’t bankrupt your “forgiveness account” with God. But when you refuse to forgive others, you’re overlooking the fact that “You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out” (Gal 6:1 TM). Jesus said, “Forgive—only then will your heavenly father…wipe your slate clean” (Mk 11:25 TM). Whether it’s seven, seventy-seven, or seven thousand times, you always reap what you sow (See Gal 6:7). We’re all human, and when somebody hurts us we want justice. But God wants you to forgive the wrongdoer before he asks or shows any sign of remorse. Does that mean he will escape the consequences of his actions? No, it just means you’re not responsible for making it happen, God is. Harboring grudges is spiritually, emotionally, and physically draining; forgiveness energizes and frees you to move on. Remember, you’ve been forgiven “in accordance with the riches of…grace…he lavished on us.” But it comes with the requirement that you forgive others! When you think about the debt God forgave you, anything anyone could ever do to you pales in comparison, right? “His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known to men; For out of his infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again” (Annie Johnson Flint, 1866-1932). Now that’s lavish grace!

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

JUNE 6, 2014. DON’T BE A STIR-STICK!

FRIDAY JUNE 6

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Mt 5:9 NKJV

DON’T BE A STIR-STICK!

Try to picture these two scenes. First: Christ in heaven defending you and acting as your advocate before God. “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ” (1Jn 2:1 NIV). Second: You here on earth, accusing someone. The Bible calls Satan “the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Rev 12:10 NIV). Which side are you on? You say, “But I heard it on the grapevine.” Has it ever occurred to you that you might not be connected to the right vine? Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit” (Jn 15:5 NIV). The fruit Jesus referred to here is “good” fruit. He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” And what’s the opposite of a peacemaker? A stir-stick! These are often people with inner turmoil, unresolved issues, or a chip on their shoulder who go through life stirring stuff up. When they see a tapestry, they look for a thread to unravel it. Some do it deliberately, others unwittingly. When you have little or no joy in your own life, it’s hard to celebrate joy in the lives of others. To be a peacemaker you must nip conflict, criticism, and complaining in the bud. Tactfully, steer the conversation in a different direction. And if need be, talk to the person who is stirring things up. At best, you’ll help them to change. At second best, they’ll think twice about what they say to you.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

JUNE 5, 2014. PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES

THURSDAY JUNE 5

“A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them.” Pr 27:12 TLB

PREPARE FOR CHALLENGES

The path to your God-given destiny will have different challenges, so you must expect them. Indeed you must prepare yourself to face them. Solomon wrote, “A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them.” Wouldn’t you rather look ahead and prepare, instead of looking back with regret? Why does the Bible record the failures of great men like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Peter? To give you hope; to let you know that nopbody performs flawlessly; to help you believe if they can do it, bu God’s grace you can too. The road to success has many potholes. You’ll fall into some—and they’re messy. Not only will you have to climb back out, you’ll have to dust yourself off, refocus, recommit, and keep going. Since failure is inevitable, why not make it your friend by examining each experience and growing stronger through it? Once you learn to do that, you won’t keep repeating the same mistakes, and you’ll become more emotionally and spiritually stable. Timelines change, resources dry up, assumptions prove false, plans and people fail. As comedian Bill Cosby quipped, “Nothing fits in a pigeonhole but a pigeon.” As you walk the pathway to your God-given dream, remember the old Italian proverb: “Between saying and going, many a pair of shoes is worn out.” No problem; you can get another pair of shoes! Just make sure you don’t wear out and give up. Here’s God’s promise to you: “Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing” (Ps 37:34 TLB).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

JUNE 4, 2014. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4

“Don’t you know me…?” Jn 14:9 NIV

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

A fascinating encounter took place between Jesus and Philip. When “Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father’…Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?’” (vv. 8-9 NIV). There’s a lesson here for all of us. You can go to church regularly, serve on the board and sing in the choir, yet not really “know” the Lord. To truly know someone you must spend time with them, sharing and opening your heart. In other words, the relationship must become your top priority. The book you’re holding is called a “devotional” because its aim is to bring you to the place where you’re more devoted to Christ than anything else. Does that mean neglecting other things? No, it will actually enhance every other area of your life. The Bible says, “ He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” (Ps 103:7 NKJV). Israel knew God’s acts because they were observers, whereas Moses knew His ways because he was intimate with Him. Israel saw what God did; Moses was close enough to understand His thinking and why He did what He did. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” (Jn 21:15 NKJV). The first two times Peter answered, “Yes.” The third time, frustrated by the question, he answered, “Lord, You know.” You can fool others, and even yourself, but the Lord knows the quality of your love for Him. Today His desire is to draw you closer to Himself. Are you available?

 Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

JUNE 3, 2014. TEMPTATION

TUESDAY JUNE 3

“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Co 12:9 NKJV

TEMPTATION

You ask, “How long will this temptation last?” Sometimes the Enemy’s attack is short-term, other times it is long-term. Paul had a “thorn” in his flesh, one that wouldn’t go away. Why did he have it? Pride! “Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me” (v. 7 NKJV). Paul spoke five languages and wrote half the New Testament. With credentials like that it’s easy to become arrogant. Finally, he stopped praying for an exit strategy and began to understand God’s purpose: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9 NKJV). Pride is one of the most neglected subjects in church today. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that we receive our teaching from people who struggle with it themselves. Pride doesn’t necessarily show on your face, but when you’re under pressure it surfaces in your actions and attitudes. Pride originated with Satan: “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isa 14:14 NIV). Often the core of atheism is pride; a person with no God plays God. Satan used this strategy in Eden. “God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Ge 3:5 NKJV). That’s why Paul told the Philippians, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God…He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave…Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor” (Php 2:5-9 NLT). The key to overcoming temptation is submitting to God and living in daily dependence of Him.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

JUNE 2, 2014. A SELF-SEEKING SPIRIT

MONDAY JUNE 2

 “A dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.”  LK 9:46 NKJV

A SELF-SEEKING SPIRIT

The Bible says: “Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great’” (vv. 46-48 NKJV). What’s at work in this story? A self-seeking spirit. As long as your motive for serving is to make yourself look good, you’ll never enjoy God’s approval. And His “Well done” is the only thing that counts. The ability to serve behind the scenes, and do it with joy, comes from the knowledge that ultimately your service will be recognized and rewarded by the only One whose opinion counts. The ability to serve behind the scenes, and do it with joy, comes from the knowledge that ultimately your service will be recognized and rewarded by the only One whose opinion counts. Why did Jesus feature a child that day? For three reasons: (1) A child is teachable. When you’re done learning, you’re done! When you can’t be told, God will have nothing more to tell you. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out” (Pr 18:15 NIV). (2) A child is trusting. When you promise a child something they believe you, act on it, and expect it to be so. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Ps 118:8 NKJV). The Holy Spirit is symbolized in Scripture as a gentle dove, so keep your heart tender and receptive to His dealings.

Taken from The Word for You Today devotional.

JUNE 1, 2014. THE THREE THORNS

SUNDAY JUNE 1

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

THE THREE THORNS 

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