Good Words for Today
Almighty God, we confess that our minds are too much on the things of this world. Forgive us, Lord. As we gather to worship, remind us again of those things that matter most. Fill us with a new ambition for Christ and his kingdom. Amen.
"We encourage you as believers to excel in love even more" ( 1 Thessalonians 4:10 GW). You can never love too much. You never reach the point where love doesn't matter. We can always grow in our love for others. How do we learn to grow in love? There is only one way. God puts us around unlovely people, usually people very close to us. He surrounds us with family and friends who sometimes get on our nerves, and he puts us in situations at work where we have to deal with difficult people every day. Over the years I have observed God do this again in again. He allows two people to have difficulties with each other, often to the point of anger and bitterness. He does it because the only way we learn to love is by dealing with unlovely people. I have seen it happen between husbands and wives, parents and children, between co-workers, neighbors, fellow students, and relatives. I've even seen God do for people who aren't going to vote the same way on Election Day. Right now it feels like we need a few miracles in this area. But God always gives us what we need to obey his command. People who start out disliking each other often end up as dearest friends. They may not agree on everything, but in Christ they learn to love one another. Lord Jesus, help us to grow in love today. Amen.
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Recently my wife and I spent a week ministering at Word of Life Bible Institute on Jeju Island in South Korea. One evening a friend took us to a restaurant with stunning views of the ocean. As evening came, I noticed dozens of bright lights filling the horizon. Our friend said those were squid boats. Just after sundown, the pilot turns on enormously powerful lights that penetrate the darkness of the ocean. The squid are attracted to the light, and that's how they are caught. Here is a good word for those who despair about the overwhelming cultural darkness. Is the world going to hell? Yes. But the world has always been going to hell. If you believe, as I do, that our current cultural rebellion has taken us into even darker regions, then we ought to meditate on the words of Jesus and the squid boats of Jeju Island. We can't do much in and of ourselves to stop the cultural slide. But we can let our light shine. We can live for Christ. We can serve others in Jesus' name. We can share the Good News of Jesus. As our world continues to move away from God, we can make an eternal difference to the people around us. As they see the light in us, they will see the One who gives us the light. They will be attracted to our Savior and God will get the credit. Don't despair! Don't give up! An ancient proverb tells us that "it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." The world is dark and getting darker. It's time to shine the light. Lord Jesus, help me to be a "bright light Christian" today. Amen.
This week I happened to read Isaiah 55:10-11 once again. These familiar words ought to encourage all of us in the work of evangelism: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” This is one of many places in the Bible where spreading the good news is compared to sowing seed into the soil. God’s Word is the seed, we are sowers, and the soil is the human heart. God has called us to spread the seed everywhere by every possible means. We do the planting and God gives the harvest—in his own time and in his own way. Isaiah 55:11 reminds us that nothing is ever wasted with God. His Word always accomplishes its divinely-ordained purpose. Our job is to sow the seed, his job is to bring in the harvest. If we do our part, God cannot fail to do his.
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God" (Psalm 143:10). Doing God's will rarely is easy. We can start by saying something like, "Lord, make me willing to be willing to do your will." Or we can simply say with David, "Lord, teach me to do your will." We don't need more knowledge. We need a heart that truly wants what God wants. God always speaks loud enough for a willing ear to hear.
"Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul" (Proverbs 22:24-25). Sin is contagious. Bad habits rub off. Greedy people attract greedy people. Haters attract haters. Violent people run in packs. Paul reminds us that "Bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). We become like the people we hang around. We like what they like, we talk like they talk, and we learn to blow up like they blow up. We live in strange and dangerous times. One writer said, "Americans hate each other." Believe it or not, he wasn't talking about the election. I ran across that quote a few years ago. But it does feel like the national blood pressure has gone up 100 points in the last few months. We can't do anything about the vitriol being spewed on TV, radio, in print, and on social media. But we don't have to add to it. We need to heed Solomon's wisdom. There are some people who aren't good for us right now. You probably have people in your life who want to provoke you into an argument every time they see you. Avoid them if you can. You don't have to answer every email or every text. Think before you hit the Post button. Don't add to the anger. I don't have an answer to the political dilemma except to say that I'll be glad when this election is over. In the meantime, stay away from angry people, think before you speak, walk away from an argument, and don't get sucked into an online debate. And let's go back to that ancient prayer and make it our own: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Amen."
"I am the LORD! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else" (Isaiah 42:8). Many people have a “Mount Rushmore” religion as a way of covering their bets. When they look up, they see Jesus and Buddha and Mohammed and Moses—and maybe LeBron James and Elvis Presley. They figure as long as Jesus is up there somewhere, they’re going to be alright in the end. But they are badly mistaken. The Lord Jesus Christ will not share his glory with anyone else. He must be worshiped as the one and only way to heaven.
Lord Jesus, I pray for grace to trust you more today than yesterday and more tomorrow than today. Amen
"Take up your cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). It's fun to follow Jesus until you find out where he's going." David and Jason Benham
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). My faith is dead if I talk without caring. My faith is dead if I lead without loving. My faith is dead if I quote the Bible without applying it in my own life. My faith is dead if I pray on Sunday and don’t show compassion on Monday. My faith is dead if I give my tithe and spend the rest on myself. Just as I was writing those words, I saw this quote from Christian Hip Hop artist Princeton Marcellis: “My faith is dead if it doesn’t make me move.” I think James would agree 100%. Living faith is moving faith.
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers” (Deuteronomy 18:18). When a prophet speaks, you have only two choices: Listen to what he says. Disregard his words. There are no other options. If you say, “I’m going to think about it,” that’s really the same as disregarding him. If Jesus is the True Prophet of God, then you must either receive or reject his words. You have to make a choice. There can be no neutrality about Jesus. You are either with him or against him. You either follow him or you ignore him. What is your verdict about Jesus? Is he really the Son of God? If he is, then crown him King of your life and join the millions who worship him as Savior and Lord. Lord Jesus, may we not waver in our devotion to you, the Son of God sent from heaven. Grant us believing hearts that we might follow you gladly. Amen.
"My faith has found a resting place, Not in device nor creed; I trust the Ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead. I need no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me." Eliza Hewitt, 1891
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). Talk about a moment of decision! This was the decisive break with Egypt and all that it represented. And it was life or death for the firstborn. Either the lamb dies. Or the firstborn of the family dies. God wants to know one thing, "Do you have faith that the blood of Jesus can wash away all your sins?" Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The blood of Jesus washes away every sin (1 John 1:7). Never be ashamed of the blood of Christ. We can't go to heaven without it.
Gracious Father, Teach us to trust you more and more. When we are tempted to do it ourselves, bring us down to the place where we must cry out for your help. Forgive us for living as if we were God and you are not. We thank you for giving us exactly what we need, when we need it, not a moment too soon, and not moment too late. Having received so much from you, we ask one thing more. Give us grateful hearts. Amen.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). When you witness, never be ashamed to quote the Bible. God's Word exposes the heart. When Billy Graham was a young man, he discovered the life-changing power of the simple phrase, "The Bible says." But what if people don't believe the Bible? Quote it anyway! Suppose someone says, "I don't believe that sword will cut me." In a literal sword fight, your belief or unbelief doesn't matter. A sharp sword cuts whether you believe it or not. So quote the Bible when you witness. It has the power to change the hardest heart.
"All the Lord’s people . . . left the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:41). It's always easier to stay in Egypt. Plenty of rewards for the home team--at least in the short run. But in the long run Egypt vanishes into the dust, while those who do the will of God abide forever.
"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3). God may seem slow but he’s never late. He never delays in order to hurt us. He’s an “on-time” God. Have you ever noticed how when you are praying for something really big, the answer seems to take forever to come? When I’m really concerned about something, it seems like I have to wait and wait and wait. Finally I give up. Three days later, after I have slid into agnosticism and despair, and I’m saying to myself, “Where is God? He cannot hear me!” then suddenly the answer comes. Why does it happen like that? There are many answers, I suppose, but chief among them is this: God will not share his glory with anyone. Sometimes he delays his answers so that we cannot later say, “Well, it was my faith that made the difference.” He answers in his own time and in his own way so that we end up saying, “To God alone be the glory!”
"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter" (Hebrews 11:24). This may seem to be an act of ingratitude since it was Pharaoh's daughter who saved him. From the few details we glean from Exodus 2, Pharaoh's daughter seems like a strong, wise and compassionate woman. She took Moses in and raised him--and yet he refused to be known as her son. Why is that? It cannot be because of basic ingratitude, as if Moses took advantage of the situation but did not love and appreciate what Pharaoh's daughter had done. He owed her his very life. I think the answer lies elsewhere. When Moses got to the height of his power, he gave it all up. Refused it. Relinquished it. Let it all go. It was not an easy decision to make because he knew that no one, least of all Pharaoh’s daughter, the woman to whom he owed his life, would understand. It seemed foolish, as if he was throwing away his whole future. By any normal standard, it didn’t make sense. Don't miss the point. Moses made a choice. Our problem is not that we don't make the choice. It is rather that we don't see that a choice even needs to be made. We think we're supposed to live in Egypt! It hasn't occurred to us to leave. You can enjoy life in Egypt, or you can deliver your people from Egypt, but you can't do both.
"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14). Waiting is hard. It's easy to despair. It's easy to lose equilibrium. We may begin to doubt what God is doing. God says, “Will you wait for me?” The world says, “Don’t just stand there. Do something!” God says, “Don’t just do something. Stand there!”
‘‘I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath" (Genesis 14:22). Only when you glimpse the greatness of God will you have the strength to withstand temptation. Some of us spend too much worrying about temptation when we ought to spend more time contemplating the Lord. When your God is big enough, temptation will be small enough that you can win the battle.
"Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Would you o’er evil a victory win? There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood. Refrain: There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb." Lewis E. Jones, 1899
"I believe the time is coming when we will not be able to take our Christianity as casually as we do now." A. W. Tozer
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!’” (Revelation 19:6-7). When Christ returns to the earth, the whole world will clearly know what we know right now by faith: Our God reigns. He reigns over all things. He reigns in every situation. He reigns in the best and the worst that happens to us. He reigns over his friends and even over his enemies. He reigns in heaven and he also reigns in hell. He reigns over those who doubt him and deny him. He reigns over those who follow other gods and other religions. Our God reigns. The world does not yet see it, and sometimes we have trouble believing it because we don’t always see it either. But the truth remains and will not be changed: Our God reigns.
Wisdom for the upcoming election: “I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.” John Wesley, October 6, 1774
“He will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire” (Isaiah 4;4). The same “Spirit of Fire” works to purify the people of God today. Before revival must come repentance. Before repentance must come confession. Before confession must come conviction. But conviction of sin is the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit. He must “burn” within us until we are willing to face up to our sin. No one likes to do that. Hiding and denying seem much more comfortable. But a red face and a few hot tears will go a long way to bring us back to God. How long has it been since you felt the “burning” of the Spirit in your heart? If you can’t remember, perhaps it’s time for you to get alone with God and let the “Spirit of Fire” do his work in your life.
God’s mercies come day by day. They come when we need them — not earlier and not later. God gives us what we need today. If we needed more, He would give us more. When we need something else, He will give that as well. Nothing we truly need will ever be withheld from us. Search your problems, and within them you will discover the well-disguised mercies of God.
Lord Jesus, when I am tempted to give up today, give me grace to take one more step with you. Amen.
Never be ashamed to say, "I can't." We all have to say that many times in life. I know I need a Divine Helper, a strength outside of myself. Once we admit our weakness, we discover what God alone can do.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). "Cheerfulness and despondency are alike contagious. A discouraged leader can chill the bravest army ever put in the field; a serene, buoyant leader can put resolution into cowards. The roots of cheerfulness are in faith; the hope which shines on the faces of some men and women is the reflection of the light which shines in the face of God." Lyman Abbott
Our ongoing struggles and temptations are not in themselves sinful. We are not condemned because we struggle. It’s not the struggle that matters; it’s how we respond. The sin is in giving in, not in the fight itself. No one escapes the conflict. No one can avoid the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. No one gets a Christian life free from outward pressure and inward turmoil. It’s crucial to remember that God allows the struggle as part of our ongoing spiritual growth. Strange as it may seem, we need to struggle because that’s the only way we can grow in grace.
"For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11). As long as we are sufficient in ourselves, we may believe in Christ but others will not see him in us. When Charles Simeon wrote about this text, he said that Christians should live so as to “carry conviction” to all that we serve a risen Lord. Lost people may not listen to our sermons or pay attention to our doctrine, but they notice the way we live under pressure. When we are broken by life, if Christ still shines through us, they may see our faith and come to believe that Jesus is alive today.
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT). If you have a light inside a jar, how will it ever light up a room? The jar must be broken. Once broken, the light shines everywhere. So it is with us. As long as we stay in control of everything and life is good and we are in excellent health and our marriage is fine and our children are doing well and we have a good job and our friends love us and we don’t have a problem in the world, as long as that is true, when people look at us, they will barely see the light within. But let the “clay pot” be broken, then the beauty of the light can be clearly seen. But the breaking hurts, you say. Yes, it does. But out of our brokenness the light of Jesus shines clearly. Will that be worth it to you? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on your perspective. Paul would say, “It’s worth it to me.”
"If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that" (Matthew 5:47). We often overlook this. One part of loving our enemies is greeting them graciously when we see them. Sometimes instead of turning the other cheek, we turn away so we won’t have to say hello to someone who has hurt us. Some of us have been quite adept at looking the other way, ducking into a room, crossing the street, or even using Caller ID to keep from greeting people we don’t like. But if we only greet our friends, what benefit is that? Do not even sinners greet each other? One part of loving your enemies is to greet them instead of avoiding them. Smile, shake hands, and say hello to your enemies. It will do you good, and it will shock them because you treated them with kindness.
"Every day with Jesus Is sweeter than the day before Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me And He's the one I'm waiting for Every day with Jesus Is sweeter than the day before." Written by Robert and Wendell Loveless, with copyright by Percy Crawford in 1936 who introduced it at Pinebrook Bible Conference. It became a staple at Christian camps across America.
Having lost the sense of joy in the gospel, and showing it so little by the way we live, why would anyone want to listen to what we have to say? Perhaps preachers would do well to assess our own sermons and ask, “Where is the note of joy?” If the gospel is truly good news, then we ought to rejoice and be glad.
"When I consider my unworthiness, fearing He would grow weary of carrying me, I return to this- He did not go through all this to abandon me." R. C. Sproul, Jr.
"What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" (Matthew 7:9-10). Good fathers are eager to help their children. This is what fathers do. They give “good” gifts to their children. If your child asks for a stone or a snake, will you give it to him? No. What if he begs? No. What if he pleads? No. What if he says, “I can’t live without that snake?” You still say no. Children often ask for foolish things, which are withheld. The same is true with God. Often we plead for things that to us seem like bread but to God are like a poisonous snake. Our Heavenly Father says no, not because he hates us but because he loves us. We often ask for things that would harm us. It might be a new job or a bigger salary or a new husband or a new wife. But God sees through to the end and knows that what we have asked for would harm us more than help us. Sometimes God’s no is the surest sign of his love for us.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). If you need to be saved, I know a name that can save you. If you want to be forgiven, I know a name that can wash away your sins. If you want a new life, I know a name that can give you new life here and now. If you want to go to heaven when you die, I know a name that can give you peace when you sleep tonight, and take you to heaven when you die. That name is the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Call upon his name and you will be saved. Run to the cross. Lay your sins on Jesus. Cry out to him with all your heart. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
"The name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). How important is the name of Jesus? By virtue of his victorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, God has exalted him to the very highest place in the universe. He has the greatest name in the universe. No one can be compared to him. He’s Number One and there is no Number Two. It’s not as if Jesus is at the top of the heap and everyone else is at the bottom. No! He stands alone. He is a category unto himself. His name is the greatest name of all. Human heroes come and go but one Name lives on forever. Ten thousand times ten thousand years from now the greatest name in the universe will still be the name of Jesus Christ.
"Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die." From "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Toplady