Good Words for Today

“Your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4 NLT). Did you get that? Your “former friends” may not be your friends any longer because you don’t do what you used to do. You can’t have it both ways. You can either live with the pagans and adopt their morals and their lifestyle or you can live for the Lord. But you can’t do both at the same time. When you decide to go against the flow, don’t expect the world to give you a merit badge for courage.

It’s a good thing to be backed into a corner now and then. Desperate situations make us Christian all over again. We quit talking about how wonderful we are, and we simply cry, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” There is no prayer more basic than that.

Who is the most Christlike person you know? He (or she) is probably busy washing dirty feet because that’s what servants do. Want to be like Jesus today? Find a towel and basin and get started.

I Thessalonians 5:23-24 tells us that one day we will stand before the Lord and be holy through and through. In that day we will be “blameless” before the Lord, deeply and radically cleansed of sin and profoundly renewed by the grace of God. No part of our being will be untouched. In that day, we will be holy and pure in body, soul, and spirit. Most of us have a long way to go and we may despair of ever reaching that happy condition. But “the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (v. 24). Our hope rests in the Lord. He called us, he is faithful, and he will do it. Your current struggles cannot cancel God’s faithfulness. He will finish his work in you.

A Prayer for Christian Marriages Father, we thank you for the gift of marriage. We acknowledge that your ways are perfect       and that you make no mistakes. We gladly confess that without you       we can do nothing.  Help us to submit ourselves to you completely       with no strings attached. We pray for happy Christian homes|       where Jesus Christ can be seen       in our closest relationships.  We pray for those who are hurting and lonely       that they might receive       a fresh touch from your Spirit. Grant healing and hope to us as we pray. We stand united by faith against       everything the devil       would do to destroy our marriages. We pray that none would be lost,       that all would be preserved. We thank you for husbands           and wives who love you      and who love each other. Grant that our marriages will not merely endure,       but that they will grow and prosper       and be filled with joy. We pray for marriages that make Jesus beautiful      in the eyes of a watching world.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!    

Father, we rejoice that your provision is greater       than our need. We come to you conscious of our weakness and doubt Grant us fresh faith to believe in you. We lean today upon       the arm of your omnipotence. Teach us to pray big prayers that you       might be honored in a big way among us. Thank you that what you have done       is only the beginning! Be glorified in us, in our families,       and in our churches, today, tomorrow and forever! Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Forgiveness is a gift I give to someone who doesn’t deserve it. If they deserved forgiveness, they wouldn’t need it.

Life is too short to waste time arguing with fools. When they try to pick a fight, smile and walk away. You’ve got more important things to do.

A non-offensive Jesus is not the Christ of the Bible.

All that God has done to save us comes to fruition in the bloody cross of Jesus Christ. And because the cross is so important, salvation must be by believing and not by achieving. It’s not what we do that saves us; it’s what Jesus did for us 2,000 years ago.

Do you need mercy today? I know where you can find it. Our God is "abounding in mercy" (Psalm 103:8). He's got mercy for yesterday, mercy for today, and mercy for tomorrow. He's got all the mercy you need. Run to Jesus! He will not turn you away.

Nothing cures pride like adversity. When we are face down in the muck and mire of defeat, we can look up and finally admit we need the Lord. There is no growth without pain.

What good is it to have the right convictions about your faith if you aren't willing to stand up for them?

Lord,      Give us the grace to treat others      As you have treated us. May we do our best for you      Right where we are. Teach us the way of obedience       And the joy of contentment. Use us for your glory this week. We thank you for putting us     Where we can do the most good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We never come to the end of needing forgiveness or needing to forgive someone else.

Jesus ate with sinners, but he didn't sin with sinners. Make sure you know the difference.

Father, we pray to be truly converted inside and out. Free us from our fascination with sin. Remind us of what we were before we met Jesus. May we ever be ashamed of sin and never ashamed of Jesus. May Christ be seen in us today. In His name, Amen.  

God is sovereign. He makes no mistakes, and no detail, no matter how small, goes unnoticed by him.

The only people who think forgiveness is easy are those who never tried to do it. To forgive a deep hurt will cost you greatly. The only consolation is, unforgiveness costs far more.

Following Jesus seems easy until you find out where he's going.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for      our limited vision of your global family. When we feel like we’re alone in the world,      remind us of our brothers and sisters      in every nation. Open our eyes to see that everyone      who belongs to Jesus belongs to us too. Amen.

There are many roads in this life, but only one road leads to heaven. There are many leaders, but there is only one Savior. His name is Jesus. Do you know Him?

Encourage someone today. Be a load-lifter, not a burden-maker. May God bless you as you bless others.      

If you prefer the gods of this world, you will die with them. But if you live for Christ, you will still be glad you did 10,000 years from now.

"Because I live, you also will live" (J0hn 14:19). The New Testament again and again connects our resurrection with his. Ours will happen in the future because his happened in the past. Sometimes when I stand by the grave of someone I know, I can almost hear a voice from beneath the ground saying, “I’m coming up.” To unbelievers that may sound like wishful thinking, but to me it’s solid biblical faith. In the words of the Apostles Creed, I believe in the resurrection of the body.

It will do you no good to simply think about Christ intellectually. As long as Christ remains outside of you, and you remain outside of him, all that he suffered and all that he gained is of no value to you. If you want to go to heaven, you must be in Christ and Christ must be in you.

If you know Jesus Christ, at the moment of your death, you will pass from this life into the next life—life eternal—where you will be forever with the Lord Jesus in paradise. Do we die? Yes, but if you know Jesus, you live on beyond the grave. Not as a dream or a phantom but as a real person. You live forever with our Lord. Death cannot separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Many prayers fail to receive an answer because we give up too soon.

It all depends on God. Everyone comes to that conclusion sooner or later. Unfortunately, some people have to die to find it out.

"Without the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ the Christian faith would have been stillborn, for a living faith cannot survive a dead Savior.” Peter Lewis

Quick Thoughts on the Elders We Need: When you choose elders, choose men of prayer. We can always get business advice. We can't always get men of prayer. A praying elder is a great gift from God. Train the congregation to call on the elders for prayer. This is God's plan (James 5:14-15).