Good Words for Today

Do not be dismayed if you feel that you have made little progress spiritually. No matter how far we come, there is always more ground to cover for the Lord. Often when we think we’re going in circles, we are actually ascending the mountain of the Lord. Sometimes it takes a friend who can say, “Look how far you’ve come. I can see God’s work in your life.”

If you know Jesus, you have everything you need now and forever. Think of it. You are forgiven, redeemed, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. You have new life now, and someday you will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven. God is our Father, the Lord Jesus is our Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit is our counselor. The Bible is our guide, the church is our home, and heaven is our destination. Who’s got it better than we do? Nobody!

God is at work in your life. Right now, you are rough and uncut, and God is patiently chipping away at you. In fact, he’s been chipping away at some of you recently, hasn’t he? Remember this. He will never intentionally hurt you. In the end, you will look like the Lord Jesus Christ.

If all we had were valleys, we would never see the mountains. If all we had were mountains, we would never explore the plains. If all we had were plains, we would never enjoy the forest. Life has many seasons, and each one has its place in God's plan for us.

Justification means that God has done everything necessary for you to go to heaven. His Son has paid the price for your sin. Nothing you can do can add in the least bit to your salvation. Thank God, you don’t have to be good to go to heaven. All you have to do is believe.

All other ground is sinking sand.

“I was trying to be a super hero. Thank God He already sent us a Savior so I can retire my cape." That comes from a friend who is learning about forgiveness and the need to let go and let God do what only God can do. It seems like good advice for all of us. You're not a super hero. Put down your cape. Jesus is all you need for everything you will face today.

For the children of God, there are no accidents. Only incidents.

Heavenly Father, When we are aggravated with others, help us to remember that we are sinners too. May we never forget that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. May that truth humble us and make us patient and kind toward others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Look to the cross, my doubting friend. Gaze on the Son of God. Ponder the meaning of Golgotha. Who is that crucified on Calvary’s tree? His name is Jesus. Study His face. See the wounds in His hands, His feet, His side. Was it not for you that He died? Do you still doubt that God loves you?

A hundred years ago, our evangelical ancestors gave us the proper formula. They said we are to be “in the world but not of the world.” That means we are to live among the lost, loving them, befriending them, caring for them, and at the same time we are to live by an entirely different value system. That powerful combination of truth backed up by love is an irresistible force in the world. We can’t reach people by lowering our standards or compromising our values. It’s a good thing when the boat is in the water; it’s a bad thing when the water is in the boat.

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

"The fool vents all his feelings, but the wise person keeps them to himself" (Proverbs 29:11). You don't have to say everything you're thinking, and most of the time you shouldn't.

If Jesus is the only way to heaven, the kindest thing we can do is to let the world know.

"The devil is easy to identify. He appears when you're terribly tired and makes a very reasonable request which you know you shouldn't grant." Fiorello La Guardia

Choose your heroes wisely. Admire them but do not worship them. The best man you know is still just a man.

How wonderful to have your whole family gathered around the table. On earth it doesn’t happen very often. But there is coming a day when all of God’s children will be together at his table forever. Do you get tired of saying goodbye to your loved ones? I have some good news. When we finally get to heaven, we'll never say goodbye again.

God intends to save some who today are in rebellion against him. God intends to save some who at this moment deny his existence. God intends to save some who will soon commit horrible crimes. God intends to save some who right now refuse to acknowledge Jesus as Lord. If you ask, “Why would God save people like that?” I answer, “Who else does he have to work with?” Sinners constitute the only available population for heaven, and since sinners are all God has to work with, that’s who he showers his grace upon.

"The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine, But God who called me here below Shall be forever mine!" From "Amazing Grace" by John Newton

We desperately need to be . . . Shaken out of our complacency, Moved out of our materialism, Awakened from our slumber, Convicted of our indifference, Shocked out of our lethargy, That we might become what God wants us to be

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” G. K. Chesterton

Good work, righteous work, even holy work, can become a distraction if we are not centered upon the Lord. Knowing Christ must come before serving Christ or else our service will be barren and our hearts will be frustrated.

It’s a good thing when Christians get interested in prayer. It means harvest time is coming! It means God is getting ready to move his people. Therefore, if your heart is stirred up, that’s a sign that God is at work in your life. He’s getting ready to do something!

God doesn't play by your rules. That's why things happen in your life that appear to be unfair. God is never unfair in the absolute sense. But in order to accomplish his purposes, he allows things in your life that may appear to you to be unfair. God's answer is always, "My child, I love you more than you know, but I'm not playing by your rules."

A person who says no to Jesus today might say yes tomorrow. There are no hopeless cases with God. There are no people who are so bad that they are beyond the reach of the grace of Almighty God. Don’t look at how bad things are around you and say, “Well, God has lost the battle.” He hasn’t lost the battle. Don’t give up praying for your friends and loved ones. Don’t judge God by what you see around you.

When the ungodly grow bold, it is time for the godly to be even bolder. When they jump headlong into sin, it is time for us to jump headlong into righteousness.

Until you see, you will not feel. Until you feel, you will not know. Until you know, you will not care. Until you care, you will not pray. Until you pray, you will not go.

When God wants to show us his will, he gives us a flashlight, not a road map. We are given just enough light to peer into the darkness and take the next step.

Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is to tell the truth even when people don't want to hear it.

Plan for today:  Less grumbling, more gratitude. Less worry, more prayer. Less fear, more faith.

Father, you are the God who turns defeat into victory. You can take the wounds of this life and transform them by your grace. Do it, Lord! Touch us with your transforming power. Help us to embrace the cross of Christ, to pick it up and to follow after our Lord, limping as we go. Amen.

“But the Lord sent a strong wind on the sea, and the storm was so violent that the ship was in danger of breaking up” (Jonah‬ ‭1:4‬). Though the voyage into sin may start with a celebration, it always ends with a raging storm. God makes sure of that.

There are miracles all around us if only we had eyes to see them. Our problem is that we look for outward, spectacular results when God’s work—like the tiny mustard seed—begins in a hidden place, inside the human heart. I know of no greater miracle than the transformation of a sinner into a saint by the grace of God.

Sometimes God’s no is the surest sign of his love for us.

‌“I send you forth as sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). If Jesus goes with us, we’re safer among the wolves than if we stayed in the pen.

Father, I pray for grace to smile more than I frown. Put someone in my path who needs a good word from me today. Amen.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Note that Jesus doesn’t say, “I have overcome your trouble,” but rather, “I have overcome the world.” Our Lord is telling us, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

You will never regret serving the Lord.