Good Words for Today
"Every saint has a past, Every sinner has a future." Saints tend to forget the first part, and sinners doubt the second part. Thank God, both parts are equally true.
"I am persuaded that men think there is no God because they wish there were none. They find it hard to believe in God, and to go on in sin, so they try to get an easy conscience by denying His existence." C. S. Lewis
“When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.“
You’ll never regret being kind today.
You came to Christ because someone prayed for you. It might have been a godly mother or father or a friend who witnessed to you or a pastor or a Sunday School teacher or a youth pastor or a deacon or a missionary or a fellow student or a coworker. Don’t think you came to Christ on your own. Someone lifted you before the Throne of Grace, and God moved from heaven to draw you to the Savior. If someone prayed for you when you were lost, won’t you do the same for someone else who needs Jesus?
The gospel is the central message of the Bible. Therefore, we must know it. The gospel is God’s plan of salvation. Therefore, we must believe it. The gospel is meant for everyone. Therefore, we must preach it.
God has given the church an utterly unique message. We say to everyone who will listen, “Go to the cross, and the cross will lead you home.” May we never be ashamed of the cross of Christ but preach it boldly as the only hope of the world.
"Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!"
"Be sure your sin will find you out." This is a severe mercy from the Lord. Until your sin is uncovered, you will live in fear and shame. But once you face the truth, you discover the healing grace of God, and then you can be set free.
The believer who arms himself with the Word of God will never lack for a weapon in the battle. It answers all our doubts and all our discouragement. This is all we have and this is all we need. The church marches triumphantly when it relies upon God’s Word.
To a world that rejects authority, the church must declare the authority of God. The world says, “We want freedom.” God says, “If you want freedom, obey my Word.” We must proclaim the truth of God even to those who reject it because it is the truth that sets men free.
If you're not regularly challenged by what you read in the Bible, you're not doing it right. It's good to read the Bible. It's better to let the Bible read you.
"Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity."
Lord Jesus, help us not to fear going slowly. We thank you that even when life seems to pass us by, and we feel like we've been put on the shelf, you’re not finished with us. Amen.
"Pray until you can pray; pray to be helped to pray and do not give up praying because you cannot pray. For it is when you think you cannot pray that is when you are praying." Charles Spurgeon
"God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Jesus." Elisabeth Elliot
You don’t have to go to hell. God has provided a way of escape for you. But even God’s way of escape will do you no good unless you reach out and take it. If you ignore Jesus, there is no hope for you. God doesn’t have a Plan B for those who reject his Son.
"There is a name I love to hear I love to sing its worth It sounds like music in my ear The sweetest name on earth Oh, how I love Jesus Oh, how I love Jesus Oh, how I love Jesus Because He first loved me"
Lord Jesus, grant that we would not be even slightly disappointed at the conditions around us. You have made us for times like these. Give us a new vision of the difference we can make in our world. Amen
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I will not desert to his foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake!" From the hymn "How Firm a Foundation," 1787.
God does not change, which means he will be there when we need him most. In the midst of our difficulty, when we have failed, when we say, “I deserve to go to hell,” the Father speaks from heaven and says, “I have made a promise, and I swore an oath. Your sin cannot cancel my grace.”
"For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" (2 Chronicles 20:12). First, you must confess your need ("we have no power"). Second, your must admit your weakness ("We do not know what to do"). Third, you must focus on the Lord ("Our eyes are on you"). God loves to help those who admit they can't help themselves.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
"Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). God is ready, willing and able to fill you right now. He’s more willing to fill you than you are to be filled. If for some reason you aren’t filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s not because of God’s reluctance. We do not have to beg God to do what he has already promised to do. Rather, he is begging us to make the way clear so he can do what he promised to do!
“What riches of kindness he lavished on us His blood was the payment, His life was the cost We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.” Matt Papa
My Lord, when I doubt, help me to trust in your ultimate justice while I wait on you to make all things right. Amen.
If you don't feel at home in the world, that's a good sign because we are pilgrims on our way to a better place. Keep your chin up, child of God. We're marching toward heaven. Soon we will be at home with the Lord.
If your faith doesn't occasionally pull you out of your comfort zone, you're not doing it right.
Don't ask God for guidance unless you intend to obey. He doesn't give opinions.
God said, "Should I not have concern for Nineveh?" (Jonah 4:11). Jonah had given up on the city, God had not! Jonah wanted it destroyed, God wanted it redeemed. When Jonah saw their repentance, he got angry. When God saw their repentance, he rejoiced. Jonah hated the city because it was full of sin. God loved the city because it was full of sinners.
When we give generously, we’re saying, “Lord, it’s all yours anyway.” When we give generously, we’re investing in the Kingdom that cannot be shaken. When we give generously, we are declaring, “There’s a lot more where that came from.”
"No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand."
"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people" (2 Timothy 2:24). Try to remember this. You'll probably need it sooner than you think. There are plenty of "difficult people" out there, and someone probably thinks you are one of those people. So be kind, even when you don't feel like it.
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you" (Isaiah 46:4). Your advancing years cannot cancel God’s faithfulness. He has a special promise for those who live long enough to have gray hair.
The skill of the shepherd is seen not in the sunlight but in the dark valleys.
If you fight God at the point of your suffering, you’ll never receive the ocean of grace he wants to pour into your life.
You can always be faithful if you can’t be anything else. It’s good to win the victory, but if you can’t do that, don’t give up without a fight.
When you pray “Thy kingdom come,” you must of necessity also pray “My kingdom go.” God’s kingdom cannot “come” unless your kingdom is going to “go.”
We must be willing to offend when eternal issues are at stake. There is no way to tell the truth without offending people who don’t believe in truth.
The gift of God is eternal life. Tell a friend. Don't go to heaven alone.