The Word for You Today
September Devotional
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Wednesday September 1
"You should follow His steps." 1Pe 2:21 NKJV
Following in the Footsteps of Jesus (1)
If you want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, observe the following things about Him: (1) He never acted in haste. He didn't make decisions in response to the pressure tactics of others. Skilled negotiators know that waiting is a weapon; whoever is the most hurried usually ends up with the short end of the deal. Waiting reveals the weakness in any plan, plus the motives of those around you. Your greatest mistakes will often happen because of impatience, so think long term. (2) He knew when to work and when to rest. In the storm on the Sea of Galilee the disciples sweated, but Jesus slept. In the garden of Gethsemane the disciples slept, but Jesus sweated. That's because He knew when to work and when to rest. Knowing when to act and when to trust, what to give your attention to and what to leave in God's hands, is a secret you must learn if you're to do God's will and not burn out. Nobody was busier than Jesus. Everybody wanted something from Him. The more successful you are the more people will reach for you. Jesus separated Himself in order to receive. He understood that you can't give what you don't have. Work means giving; rest means receiving. Jesus understood the balance; that's why He accomplished so much in three short years. When you're rested you think more clearly, you make better decisions, you see life through confident eyes, you accomplish more in less time, and what you build is built to last. So stop your frantic rush. Following in the footsteps of Jesus means being led, not driven!
Thursday September 2
"You should follow His steps." 1Pe 2:21 NKJV
Following in the Footsteps of Jesus (2)
Jesus knew He didn't have to prove Himself. At the cross, skeptics said, "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Mt 27:40). His reaction? He refused to let their comments intimidate Him or alter His plans. He didn't need their approval; He already had His Father's: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mt 3:17). Jesus didn't waste time answering His critics. "Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor" (Mt 27:14 NIV). Jesus responded to hunger, to need, to seekers, but not to people trying to trap Him. You owe nothing to a critic. "Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words" (Pr 23:9). Do you know why there's never been a monument built to a critic? Because critics are spectators, not players! Jesus didn't focus on the past, but the future. His mother was pregnant with Him before she was married. Only a few people knew the truth. Jesus grew up with this, yet He didn't feel the need to explain it. Stop complaining that your family was poor, or talking about your limited education, or repeating stories of those who failed you, or advertising your pain, or meditating on your flaws. All of us are challenged in some way. "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing" (Isa 43:18-19). Satan discusses our yesterdays; apparently that's the only information he has about us. Jesus discusses our tomorrows. So if you want to follow in His footsteps, focus on what's ahead.
Friday September 3
"A good wife is...worth more than rubies." Pr 31:10 NCV
Appreciate Your Wife
Do you have any idea how hard your wife works to be a good mother? Imagine this: six dads are dropped on a desert island with one car and three kids each for six weeks. Each child will play two sports and take music or dance lessons. There's no fast food, and every man has to correct homework, help with science projects, cook meals, do laundry, budget for groceries, pay the bills without enough money, know the birthdays of friends and relatives and send cards. In addition, he has to take each kid for haircuts and to doctor and dentist appointments, bake cakes for school functions, plant flowers, and keep his home presentable at all times. He can only watch TV after the kids are in bed and his chores are done, and then he must have enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice. He should be well-groomed, go to church at least once a week, read to his kids, pray with them every night, pack their lunches and favorite snacks, fix breakfast, make sure they're dressed and on the school bus by 8:00 am. At the end of six weeks every guy will be tested on his child's height, weight, shoe size, favorite color, song, drink, toy, and their biggest fear. And here's the best part-the winner gets to play the game over and over again for the next eighteen to twenty-one years! So, do you still think you want to change places with your wife? The Bible says: "Go all out in your love for your wives" (Eph 5:25 TM) because "a good wife is...worth more than rubies."
Saturday September 4
"You will keep him in perfect peace." Isa 26:3 NKJV
Don't Lose Your Peace of Mind
We lose our peace of mind for four reasons: (1) We try to change the people in our lives. As you grow wiser you begin to realize that you can't change other people, only God can! And He does, when you back off, and love them as they are. This doesn't mean agreeing with everything they do. It means committing to love them regardless, claiming God's promises on their behalf and allowing Him to deal with them His way, in His time and for His glory. The reason you're stressed out may be because you keep trying to do something-about something you can't do anything about! (2) We try to make things happen when it's not the right time. "There is a time for everything" (Ecc 3:1 NIV). If you've raised children you know that one of their chief characteristics is impatience; they can't wait for anything. God wants us to outgrow our childishness so He makes us wait, trust, and mature! (3) We get upset because we're not progressing fast enough. You can slow down your spiritual growth through neglect, but ultimately, "We all...are being changed...[by] the Spirit" (2Co 3:18 NCV). So learn to enjoy your life while God works on your problems, for you'll always have problems! (4) We push ourselves harder and harder. We do what we think God wants without consulting Him as to what He actually wants, when He wants it, or how He wants it done. As a result we wear ourselves out. What's the solution? "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is [focused] on You, because he trusts in You."
Sunday September 5
"The Lord has kept me alive." Jos 14:10 NKJV
Live Caleb's Way (1)
At the ripe old age of eighty-five, Caleb said to Joshua, "The Lord has kept me alive...just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war...give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day...And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb...because he wholly followed the Lord" (vv. 10-14 NKJV). There was nothing half-baked or half-hearted about Caleb. His dream kept him alive; he got out of bed every morning intent on pursuing it. When God gives you a dream as big as a mountain, it will keep you going while others around you are giving up. But be careful who you listen to. Don't let the critics discourage you by saying, "You're too old." The Bible says that like a palm tree, you can produce your greatest harvest of fruit in your final years (See Ps 92:12-14). When the sun goes down the stars come out-so you can shine brightest in the closing chapters of your life. Barbara Klassen says: "My great-great uncle lived to one hundred and six. He was healthy and spry and took joy in chauffeuring his less able-bodied senior friends around town. On his hundredth birthday his driver's license came up for renewal. When he went to the licensing bureau a skeptical clerk said, 'You're a hundred years old! What do you need a driver's license for?' My uncle, completely nonplussed, replied, 'Somebody has to drive the old folks around!' He continued to have a legal driver's license for the next five years." Do it Caleb's way: live to the moment you die!
Monday September 6
"My servant Caleb...has a different spirit in him." Nu 14:24 NKJV
Live Caleb's Way (2)
Caleb said to Moses: "'Let us go up at once and take possession [of the Promised Land] for we are well able'...But the men...with him...gave...a bad report...saying...'There we saw the giants...and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight'" (Nu 13:30-33 NKJV). Notice two attitudes at work in this story: (1) An attitude of doubt. Ten of twelve spies came back saying, "It can't be done!" But the majority isn't necessarily right. If God promises you something, it's yours, even if you're in the minority. The majority report terrified God's people; they got spiritual amnesia; they forgot the last forty years of His supernatural provision. They talked themselves into believing that Egypt was actually the land of milk and honey. "You have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness" (Nu 16:13 NKJV). Incredible! Egypt was a land of straw and slavery, not milk and honey. What was their problem? They allowed their surroundings to influence them more than God's promises. When that happens you dry up spiritually, begin to grumble and say stuff like, "God may have worked miracles in the past, but He doesn't do it anymore." As a result of their unbelief, not one of them entered the Promised Land except Joshua and Caleb. (2) An attitude of faith. God said, "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land...and his descendants shall inherit it." So, which attitude do you have?
Tuesday September 7
"Earnest prayer...produces wonderful results." Jas 5:16 NLT
Your Prayers Carry Weight with God
In the Old Testament Abraham journeyed south. When he reached Gerar we read that he "said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister.' Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her" (Ge 20:1-2 NIV). Can you imagine how Sarah felt, trapped and alone in the palace, contemplating what lay ahead at the hands of her captor? And what's worse, her husband, the man she trusted with her life, let it happen! We're not privy to how Sarah prayed that night. But she must have touched the heart of God because He "came to Abimelech in a dream...and said...'the woman you have taken...is...married...return the man's wife...and you will live...if...not...you...will die'" (vv. 3-7 NIV). God's directives are always clear; there's never any ambivalence about what He says. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it...wherever he pleases" (Pr 21:1 NIV). That means authority figures who don't even know you exist, have to stop and listen when God speaks, because to Him "one man is not different from another" (Ro 2:11 AMP). So what can you do when you're helpless to change a situation you didn't create? Or when someone you loved and trusted lets you down? Pray! Instead of giving in to bitterness or fear, cry out to God. He will hear you like He heard Sarah. How can you be sure? Because His Word says, "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." No matter how bad things may look right now, and they looked pretty bad for Sarah that night, your prayers carry weight with God.
Wednesday September 8
"Be kindly affectionate to one another." Ro 12:10 NKJV
Show Kindness
Sometimes we defend our lack of love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and all those other "fruits of the spirit," in the name of productivity and hard work. But we can't square it with Christ's teachings. He said, "Whatever you want [others] to do to you, do also to them" (Mt 7:12 NKJV). When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody, expecting nothing in return? Mother Teresa said, "A day lived without showing love for others, is a day not worth living." Loving people must be a way of life, a fixed attitude, a commitment we make every day. William Barclay said: "More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world. And more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christians than by all the doubts in the world."
Have you ever stopped to think that all those little irritations which come your way each day, are just God giving you an opportunity to become more Christ-like? Years ago Chuck Swindoll wrote: "What does the Lord do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how selfish I am? Very simple: He gives me four busy kids who step on toes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows, and drop sticky candy on the carpet...being unselfish in attitude strikes at the very core of our being. It means we are willing to forego our own comfort, our own preferences, our own schedule, our own desires for another's benefit. And that brings us back to Christ."
Thursday September 9
"Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen?" Ro 8:33 NLT
Don't Judge!
When you tear someone down, you're on thin ice with God. The Bible says: "Who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare...point a finger? The One who died for us...is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us...no way!" (vv. 33-35 TM). Your fellow-believers are not perfect, but God says they "belong to his dear Son" (Eph 1:6 NLT). There's nothing you can bring against them that God doesn't already know. Stop and think; by discrediting them you're questioning the One who redeemed them, implying He made a mistake and doesn't know what He's doing. You say, "But shouldn't I speak up when something is wrong?" Yes, but be careful about overstepping your bounds and condemning the person. Your attitude should be one of helpfulness, forgiveness and reconciliation. Anytime you try to judge what you've no authority over, you're out of your jurisdiction! Paul writes, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (Ro 14:4 NIV). It's God's job to judge others-and He doesn't need your help to do it!
Friday September 10
"Do not set aside...grace." Gal 2:21 NKJV
Legalism or Grace? (1)
Imagine going to the emergency room and being asked to leave because you're bleeding all over the floor! Jesus encountered that legalistic mindset when He healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath. "Indignant...the synagogue ruler said...'There are six days for work...come and be healed on those days'" (Lk 13:14 NIV). Observing the law was more important to him than the people he was supposed to care for. Max Lucado says: "All religion falls into...two camps: legalism or grace. A legalist believes if you look right, speak right and belong to the right group, you'll be saved...The outside sparkles...but something's missing...Joy. What's there instead? Fear-that you won't do enough. Arrogance-that you've done enough. Failure-that you've made a mistake. Legalism is...slow suffocation of the spirit, amputation of one's dreams...enough religion to keep but not nourish you...Your diet is rules and standards. Legalism...doesn't need God...It's the search for innocence-not forgiveness...a systematic process of defending...explaining...exalting...justifying...It turns my opinion into your burden. There's only room for one opinion...and guess who's wrong? It turns my opinion into your boundary. Your opposing opinion makes me question not only your right to fellowship with me, but your salvation. It turns my opinion into your obligation. Christians must toe the company line. Your job isn't to think, it's to march...Salvation is God's business. Grace is his idea, his work, and his expense. He offers it to whomever he desires, when he desires. Our job is to inform people, not screen them." Paul writes, "Do not set aside...grace...for if righteousness comes through the law...Christ died in vain." Thank God "he saved us because of his mercy...not...good deeds we did" (Tit 3:5 NCV).
Saturday September 11
"We are made fit...by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus." Heb 10:10 TM
Legalism or Grace? (2)
Rigid adherence to a list of do's and don'ts appeals to our pride and self-sufficiency by fostering the myth that if we work hard enough we can earn God's favor. That's fear-based thinking, and "God has not given us a spirit of fear" (2Ti 1:7 NLT). "There is no fear in love...fear has to do with punishment" (1Jn 4:18 NIV). Legalism is fear that God isn't big enough to forgive your sins, that unless you do the right thing in the right way at the right time-and do it perfectly-you're in trouble. Jon Walker writes: "That's a lie with the smell of hell all over it! When we fear making mistakes we become timid, and limit ourselves from living abundantly. We let...analysis permeate our decisions as we lead quiet, desperate, anti-faith lives, afraid to move with the bold confidence that grace gives us to walk in uncertainty...unafraid of rejection." Speaking against works-based religion, Martin Luther said, "Be a sinner and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger...rejoice in Christ...the victor over sin." No, Luther wasn't excusing sin! He was restoring grace to its rightful place, affirming that nothing can separate us from God's love (See Ro 8:38-39). He wasn't downgrading the law, He was upgrading grace. Grace means talking to God and listening for His voice when it would be easier to just consult the rule book. The truth is, when "[Jesus] entered...heaven...to appear...before God on our behalf" (Heb 9:24 NLT), He freed us to have a relationship with Him without fear of sin separating us.
Sunday September 12
"They...searched the Scriptures daily." Ac 17:11 NKJV
Get into God's Word!
The Devil doesn't mind you paying lip-service to God's Word as long as you don't take the time to read and study it. How long have you been talking about reading your Bible? When are you going to get around to doing it-and applying its principles in your everyday life? Dr. Howard Hendricks writes: "Anybody can come up with a grandiose scheme for change. One person says he wants to reach the world for Christ. Somebody else wants to study every book in the Bible over the next five years. Somebody else plans to memorize 100 verses. Somebody else is going to become a Christ-like spouse. Wonderful! When are you going to begin? Until you answer that, all you have is good intentions. Those have about as much value as a worthless check. After all, what good does it do to dream of reaching the world with the Gospel if you can't share Christ with the person in the office next to you? How are you going to study the entire Bible when you don't even know what verse you're going to study tomorrow? How can you memorize 100 verses when you've never even tried to memorize one? Rather than fantasize about a Christ-like marriage, why not start with something simple such as doing the dishes if you're a husband, or encouraging your husband if you're a wife? Too much 'application' stays at the level of good intentions because we talk about the end of the journey without specifying when, where, and how we're going to take the first step. As someone has well said, "We don't plan to fail, we fail to plan."
Monday September 13
"Wisdom is better than muscle." Ecc 9:16 TM
Guiding Your Kids Through the Tough Years (1)
Are you raising a teenager? Welcome to the tough years! There's nothing wrong with you, you're just parenting an adolescent. You say, "But they are just ten, this craziness shouldn't be happening yet!" Sorry, but now they develop faster! Puberty hits them between ten and twelve years of age, and learning how this accelerated genetic mix functions is vital to good parenting. So here are some helpful updates:
(1) Some of your old ways aren't likely to work anymore. What worked with young kids frequently fails with older ones. Do you remember when raising your voice to your seven-year-old brought instant obedience? Try that with your hormone-charged teen-and get ready for battle! Teenage chemistry defies the old logic, so learn what makes them tick, pray for grace and respond based on what works, not what doesn't. If you treat teens like preteens you will get nowhere! (2) What didn't come naturally, can be learned. Those "model parents" you heard about are either understating it, enjoying a short-term break, or they earned their stripes the hard way. It's not easy. You learn to do it well by first doing it poorly, then doing it better, then asking God to do what you can't. And He will! (3) Your only unforgivable mistake is the one you won't acknowledge. Your children know you're not flawless and they can handle it. They also know how big you have to be to admit it, and they're quick to forgive. So forget modeling perfection; just show them, humbly and constructively, how to handle it when they've been imperfect!
Tuesday September 14
"Wisdom is better than muscle." Ecc 9:16 TM
Guiding Your Kids Through the Tough Years (2)
Parent, you influence your child more than anyone else! You say, "But they seem to pay little or no attention to me, and lots to their friends!" Peers are very influential, and if you're dismissive or judgmental with them you'll just increase your child's negative peer pressure. Your teenager's resistance isn't necessarily saying they disagree with your opinions or think you're wrong, they're just experiencing two powerful, life-shaping, natural tendencies.
First, for healthy social growth they need peer relations. Appearing "cool" to friends promotes those relations, so they'll seem to downplay your influence. Don't take it personally; it's about them and their growing needs, not about you. Second, normal development is pushing them towards becoming more independent. When they push back it's usually more about this, than about rebellion or even substantial disagreement with you. These God-designed inclinations prepare them to "leave father and mother and become one flesh" with someone else for life (See Ge 2:24). When fishing, you let out the line or risk breaking the rod and losing the catch. Discover the natural flow of teenage development and work with, not against, it! Try to redirect your teen by helping them find constructive ways to express their new autonomy and you'll help them harness it the right way. What you think or believe isn't the problem, how you handle it with them is. Remaining rational, loving, affirming, prayerful and patient invites cooperation rather than confrontation. In God's timing they'll embrace your values, beliefs and attitudes. "When he (or she) is old, he will not depart from it" (Pr 22:6).
Wednesday September 15
"Wisdom is better than muscle." Ecc 9:16 TM
Guiding Your Kids Through the Tough Years (3)
If you're serious about changing your child-work on changing yourself! Trying to change others usually doesn't work anyway. Adolescents perceive such efforts as saying, "You're not acceptable to me." That's a perfect way to turn them into freedom-fighters whose cause becomes resisting your efforts to change them. The best way to change someone is to change how you handle them. When you change your steps, the entire dance routine changes because you've changed what they're responding to. If what you're doing isn't working, stop it and do something that will! You don't have to come up with the perfect solution at first. Just stopping the tired, frustrating dance of conflict will improve your environment, decrease stress and opposition, and help make way for a more effective strategy. Nagging only makes your kids ask, "Why are you always on my back?" diverting them from the real issues. Decreasing tension, while affirming your child's value to you, increases your likelihood of success. The adolescent mind is wired differently. They're not crazy, they're just dealing with rapidly changing chemistry. There was a time when we thought that by five years of age the brain was finished changing. Were we ever wrong! We know now its most sophisticated development happens throughout adolescence. In the emerging teen brain neurons fire off spontaneously, without warning or conscious reasons, leaving your child overwhelmed by feelings they don't understand and haven't yet learned to control. So they behave irrationally, inconsistently, unpredictably, irritatingly. Your job is to try to understand this and become a calming influence. The "craziness" will pass. In the meantime, pray: "Wisdom is better than muscle."
Thursday September 16
"He who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter." Pr 11:13 NKJV
Never Betray a Confidence
We all need a shoulder to cry on. When we're battling habits and hang-ups we need a safe place to go, confident we'll be loved, understood, supported and prayed for. If those who are hurting can't find these qualities in church, where are they supposed to go? The betrayal of a confidence is a terrible sin. "But what I said was true," you object. So what? "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter." Note the words "reveals" and "conceals." The Hippocratic Oath says: "Whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets." That oath is taken by physicians and other professionals in positions of trust. But it ought to be binding on every one of us! How would you feel if your doctor, counselor, minister or a trusted friend violated your confidence and broadcast your holy secrets? Hurt? Betrayed? The longer we live the more we realize there's a severe shortage of people who can be trusted to keep their mouths shut, and the more we value them. If you were asked to define a person of integrity, wouldn't the ability to keep a confidence be close to the top of your list? So here are some ground rules to live by: (a) Instead of talking, pray about it. (b) Instead of criticizing, look for something good. (c) Instead of showing anger, show grace. How you handle others determines how God will handle you!
Friday September 17
"Having...gifts...let us use them." Ro 12:6 NKJV
Use Your Gift (1)
The Bible says, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them." God has "graced" you to do certain things well. Now, that doesn't mean doors will automatically open, and, like cream, you'll just rise to the top. Indeed, what you get overnight you can lose overnight. You must first discern your gifts, use every opportunity to sharpen them, learn from your mistakes, and be tenacious about what God's called you to do. In high school "Sparky" flunked Latin, algebra, English and physics. He made the golf team but promptly lost the only match of the season, then he lost the consolation match. He was awkward socially-more shy than disliked. He never once asked a girl out on a date in high school. One thing, however, was important to Sparky-drawing. He was proud of his artwork even though nobody else appreciated it. He submitted cartoons to the editors of his high school yearbook but they were rejected. Even so, he aspired to be an artist. After high school he sent samples of his work to The Walt Disney Studios. Again he was rejected. But Sparky didn't quit. He decided to write his autobiography in cartoons. The popularity of his cartoon strip eventually led to countless books and television shows. You see, Sparky was Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, the most famous cartoonist of all time. Like his main character, Charlie Brown, Schulz seemed unable to succeed at many things. But he made the most of his God-given talent, refused to quit, and ended up winning. So, use your gift.
Saturday September 18
"A spiritual gift is given to each of us." 1Co 12:7 NLT
Use Your Gift (2)
One of the great benefits of finding and fulfilling your life's calling is that it settles the question of what constitutes true success. Many of us have a faulty definition. We've bought into the idea that success is measured by how well we do-compared to how well others do. That's a recipe for frustration! No matter what you do, someone else will always do it better. But when you define success in terms of God's purpose for your life, the standard changes completely. True success is not what you've done compared to what others have done, but what you've done compared to what God assigned you to do: "Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits" (1Co 12:7 TM). Jesus said He was successful because He accomplished the work His Father had sent Him to do (See Jn 17:4). Paul could say at the end of his life, "I have finished my course" (2Ti 4:7). By this standard, success may mean leaving a lucrative job to follow God's call. It may mean using your talents for His glory, instead of chasing fame and fortune. Whatever it is, once you know you're in your calling you can stop comparing yourself to others or wishing you were someone else. The Bible says we are each given gifts "for the common good" (1Co 12:7 NAS). Only when you're using your gifts to bless others will you experience true satisfaction. Paychecks and promotions are good, but they can't take the place of divine purpose. Only in your calling will you experience lasting joy.
Sunday September 19
"He must manage his own family well." 1Ti 3:4 NIV
Balancing Family and Career
Balancing family and career calls for tough, unselfish choices. If you make the right ones you'll look back with joy, not regret. John Ortberg writes: "A friend of mine is a professional musician. For many years he made his living on the road. He was becoming increasingly successful. Then three years ago he became a father. He was on the road about half the time. He realized that when his daughter was about a year old she hardly knew him. He knew he needed to make a change but it was frightening to him. What if his career slowed to a crawl? What if being home more, actually made life harder? He took a job as the head of a music department at a university. He still performs, but he travels now only a fraction of the time. His relationship with his daughter has become a source of pride and joy in his life that he otherwise never would have known. He did have to let go of some of his old dreams, but he has since recorded a best selling CD and been nominated for a Grammy. Most importantly, he realizes his daughter will grow up a fundamentally different human being now, than she would have if she had grown up with a hole in her heart where her father was supposed to be. By the end of his life he will have a title that means much more to him than Rock Star. The title is 'Dad!'" The Bible says a leader "must manage his own family well." And that doesn't just apply to leaders, it applies to all of us!
Monday September 20
"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife." Ru 4:13 NKJV
How to Prepare Yourself (1)
Look at the instructions Naomi gave Ruth for approaching Boaz, her future husband, and you'll see that there's a certain protocol involved in walking with God. Once you understand it, the things you've been waiting for begin to happen. So:
(1) Be sure it's God's will for you. Ruth wasn't looking for just any man, she had a specific one in mind. And because Naomi had done her homework, she was able to tell Ruth where to find him: "He is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor" (Ru 3:2 NKJV). Research what you want from God before you start claiming things in prayer. Be sure it's what He wants too! If your name's not on it, don't pursue it. Don't go after something because it looks good in someone else's life. God has a plan for you-one that's unique and specific. Seek Him and He will reveal it to you. (2) Deal with your past. Naomi said to Ruth, "Wash yourself" (Ru 3:3 NKJV). In order to gain acceptance with Boaz, Ruth couldn't approach him looking and smelling like Moab, the famine-stricken place she'd come from. She needed to settle her past so it didn't sabotage her future. God will open the door for you, but until you've resolved your old issues you won't be able to walk through it. You can't receive what He has for you now if you're still contaminated by what you went through then. Whether it takes six months or six years, sort out your emotional baggage. God says: "Forget the former things...I am doing a new thing...I am making a way" (Isa 43:18-19 NIV).
Tuesday September 21
"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife." Ru 4:13 NKJV
How to Prepare Yourself (2)
In order to prepare Ruth for meeting Boaz, her future husband, Naomi taught her two important principles about succeeding in life:
(1) You must have the right attitude. Naomi said to Ruth, "Anoint yourself" (Ru 3:3 NKJV). In Bible times people anointed themselves with oil in order to be refreshed and renewed. So Ruth was, in essence, adopting the right attitude. If you're praying for a good job or a suitable partner or a favorable outcome in a particular area but it hasn't happened yet, don't automatically blame Satan-check your attitude. "Let God re-make you so that your whole attitude...is changed" (Ro 12:2 PHPS). To get the right result, you need the right approach. (2) You must be willing to stand out in the crowd. Naomi instructed Ruth, "Put on your best garment" (Ru 3:3 NKJV). But why get dressed up for something that hasn't happened yet? Because God blesses prepared people! When your time comes you must be ready. Ruth's story teaches us that it's those who are willing to stand out in the crowd who get noticed. Any time you dress for where you're going, there's a good chance you'll look out of place where you are. That's okay. Your highest priority should be God's approval, not man's. You must know you have a definite destination, otherwise you'll be tempted to make excuses and try to explain why you're so different from everyone else. When you know where God is taking you, you won't care. The truth is, when others look at your preparation they should be in no doubt as to your destination.
Wednesday September 22
"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife." Ru 4:13 NKJV
How to Prepare Yourself (3)
Observe two more things Naomi taught Ruth, in preparation for meeting Boaz:
(1) Make sure you're in the right place. Naomi told Ruth, "Go down to the threshing floor" (Ru 3:3 NKJV). Why? Because that's where Boaz was! To receive what God has for you, you must be in the right place spiritually. Satan will tell you you're unworthy. He will try to convince you to stay where you are and to listen to those who'd keep you from where God wants you to be. He will make you feel out of place even when you're in the right place. Don't believe his lies; when God calls you He equips you, empowers you, and uses you for His glory. (2) Understand the importance of timing. "Do not make yourself known to the man until..." (Ru 3:3 NKJV). Ruth had waited a long time for this moment; now she had to learn to be quiet because the person God planned to bless her through was sleeping. It's hard to be all keyed up about something nobody else is excited about; you want to get them excited too. But sometimes God says, "Wait." Stop working to make things happen before their time! Don't try to promote yourself. "The vision is yet for an appointed time...Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come" (Hab 2:3 NKJV). God may not respond when you think He should, but His timing is perfect. He has blessings with your name on them, and no matter how many others want them, when the time is right He will give them to you.
Thursday September 23
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Heb 12:1 NKJV
Running the Race
In Greece there's a place tourists seldom visit. The writer of Hebrews may have had it in mind when he wrote, "Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and...run with endurance." It's where the Isthmian Games, a forerunner to the Olympics, were held: a place where athletes were hailed as heroes. To develop muscle they trained with weights strapped to their legs, but on the day of the race they stripped off anything that wasn't essential. There's a lesson here. We think what we're clinging to is important. If we didn't, letting go wouldn't be a struggle; we'd simply set it down.
The Christian life is a race that starts the day you accept Christ and ends when you meet Him face-to-face. In order to cross the finish line as a winner you must eliminate: (1) Anything that slows you down. In other words, anything that hinders your spiritual progress. In and of itself it may not be wrong, but it becomes a "weight" when it stops you from living for God to the fullest. (2) Anything that causes you to stumble short of the finish line. You must constantly monitor the level of your commitment to Christ, the growth of your faith, your home life, your relationships, your integrity, your work ethic, your thought life and your habits. Make up your mind to stay focused on the prize. Greek athletes who won received a garland that eventually withered, but you will "receive the crown of glory that will never fade" (1Pe 5:4 NIV). Isn't that worth running the race for?
Friday September 24
"That your fruit should remain." Jn 15:16 NKJV
Two Thoughts about Elisha
Elisha served others until he died. We read: "Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him [for advice]." On his deathbed, Elisha gave the king a strategy for defeating his enemies. So, you can lift others even when you yourself are down. You can feel like a hypocrite because things aren't so great in your own life, yet still minister to them. The truth is, when you reach out in love to someone else it takes the focus off you, your discouragement lifts, and it works for your good. Elisha's impact continued after he died. One day Elijah said to Elisha, "What can I do for you?" He replied, "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit" (2Ki 2:9 NIV). Elijah, his mentor, performed seven major miracles recorded in Scripture. When he died, Elisha had performed only thirteen. Did God fail to grant his request? No. "Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land...So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet" (2Ki 13:20-21 NKJV). Miracle fourteen; Elisha got his double portion! Jesus said, "I chose...you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (Jn 15:16 NKJV). So pray, "Lord, give me a legacy of righteousness. Make my impact greater than my lifespan. Give me fruit that remains."
Saturday September 25
"I have played the fool." 1Sa 26:21 NKJV
Don't Play the Fool
Your obituary says a lot about you. King Saul's last words were: "I have played the fool." Israel's first king was destined for greatness till he decided to do things his own way instead of God's way. When the Philistines attacked Israel he tried to rally his troops, who were immobilized by fear. He knew he should wait for the prophet Samuel to come and offer a burnt sacrifice as required by the law. But he said, "I'll just do it myself. Under the circumstances, God won't mind." That one act of disobedience ended his career. He died a suicide, on the battlefield; a life filled with promise, ended in disgrace. You play the fool by:
(1) Disregarding God in little things. Saul's fall didn't happen overnight. Little sins morph into big ones. Thinking, "It's no big deal," Saul took matters into his own hands. He said, "I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself" (1Sa 13:12 NLT). Note the words, "I felt." It can feel so right, yet be so wrong. Only trust your feelings when they line up with God's Word. (2) Trying to justify your behavior. Saul rationalized, "I saw my men scattering...you didn't arrive when you said...the Philistines are...ready for battle" (v. 11 NLT). Stop rationalizing, repent, and obey God! (3) Letting resentment control you. Though he had the makings of a great leader, when David started to gain popularity, Saul's resentment ended up destroying him. Most people learn from their own mistakes; wise people learn from other people's! Learn from Saul; don't play the fool.
Sunday September 26
"Work together with the same purpose." 1Co 3:8 NLT
When You're the Leader (1)
Church growth consultant Jim Wideman highlights some things you can do to help those looking to you for direction: (1) Put their goals and needs first. You're a part, not the whole enchilada. Think about how your actions affect others. Be observant of the challenges and setbacks they're experiencing, and find ways to lighten their load even if they don't ask. (2) Help others to win. Let others take a slam-dunk while you take an assist. Keep the ball moving till someone has a chance to score. Adopt the motto, "It doesn't matter who gets the credit." Be willing to accept blame and reluctant to assign it. Maintain an authentic desire to share victories. "A kingdom at war with itself will collapse" (See Mk 3:24 NLT); you can't sink someone else's end of the boat and keep your own afloat. (3) Over-communicate. Keep everyone in the loop, spend time with your peers, invest in your teammates, and admit when you need help. Be open to correction and advice. Leadership coach Rick Tate said, "Feedback is the breakfast of champions," and a good communicator is a good listener. (4) Don't take things personally. Leadership, by definition, is about "others." When you start thinking it's all about "you," you lose perspective. (5) Give it all you've got. Paul, Timothy's mentor, said to him: "Concentrate on doing...work you won't be ashamed of" (2Ti 2:15 TM). Good leaders empower others. Lao-Tzu said, "At the end of the days of truly great leaders, the people will say about them, 'We did it ourselves.'"
Monday September 27
"Whoever wants to be a leader...must be your servant." Mt 20:26 NLT
When You're the Leader (2)
Mac Anderson says: "Like every human being, I have doubts, fears and disappointments...As leaders, however, we must manage our attitude...we can't underestimate the influence of our actions and attitudes. Churchill said, 'The price of leadership is responsibility to stay positive whether you feel like it or not.' A good leader launches out before success is certain...doesn't run from confrontation...talks about his own mistakes before anybody else's, and acknowledges them before others have to discover and reveal them. He looks for opportunities to find his teammates doing something right, and encourages the smallest improvement. He doesn't tolerate murmuring in himself or in others...is specific in his expectations...values accountability...does what's right instead of what's popular or convenient." What does the word "servant" bring to your mind? The guy who works behind the scenes? The personal assistant who makes you look good? The mate who worked so you could complete your degree? Charles Stanley says: "Godly servants are all around us, but we often take them for granted. This is a tragedy we need to correct-not only for their sakes but for our own. Their faithful service brings untold blessings...Wherever Joseph went, the people he served were blessed. Potiphar wasn't a God-fearing man, yet he prospered because of Joseph. Find the people in your life who have the gift of godly service and spend time with them...When you turn your nose up at someone doing 'servant's work' you cut yourself off from a relationship that could literally change your life." Each of us has the potential to be great-not famous, but great, because greatness comes by serving!
Tuesday September 28
"The leader should be like a servant." Lk 22:26 NLT
When You're the Leader (3)
Michael Bruner writes about how, as a brash young college student, he attended a lecture by a former U.S. Attorney General. He says: "Afterwards I approached him to see if we could meet for coffee. To his associates' shock, he said, 'How about tomorrow'...We met and talked for an hour...I peppered him with questions. What famous people had he met? What was it like to be Attorney General in the 60's? When I asked him who was the greatest person he'd ever met, he said, 'I don't think of people in those terms.' He went on to tell me something I'll never forget. 'Don't ever seek to be the greatest. Seek instead to do great things. If you aspire to greatness, your greatness will die with you. But if you aspire to do great things, your legacy will live on. The only way to do this is by being a servant. Lead by serving and you'll do great things.' I was too young in the faith to know he'd taken those words from Scripture...Jesus was the embodiment of servant leadership. He didn't just tell the disciples what they should do, he did it along with them...As I left the hotel that morning and waited to cross the street, a blind man with a seeing-eye dog came up alongside me. I stared at the beautiful Lab...his senses alert, his sole purpose in life to serve his...master. Then the light turned green and gently the dog led [him] across the street...God had sent me a living parable. I learned a lesson that morning I would never forget. Pursue great things, not greatness; lead by serving."
Wednesday September 29
"Clothe yourselves...with the beauty that comes from within." 1Pe 3:4 NLT
Character-The Beauty that Lasts
When it comes to beauty, get your perspective right: "Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes...clothe yourselves...with the beauty that comes from within" (vv. 3-4 NLT).
The public relations department of a beauty products company asked its customers to send pictures along with brief letters, describing the most beautiful women they knew. Thousands of letters came in. One caught the attention of the employees and was passed on to the president. It was written by a boy from a broken home who lived in a run-down neighborhood. With lots of spelling errors, an excerpt from his letter read: "A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me. When I leave she always yells out the door that she's proud of me." The boy ended his letter saying, "This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and one day I hope to have a wife as pretty as her." Intrigued, the president asked to see the woman's picture. His secretary handed him a photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun. The wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes. "We can't use this woman," said the president, smiling. "She would show the world that our products aren't necessary to be beautiful."
Thursday September 30
"In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Ge 12:3 NKJV
Handling Family Problems
In order to bless all the families of the earth, Abraham had to start with his own family. Before a man could qualify for leadership in the New Testament church, they examined his home life (See 1Ti 3:5). Their thinking was, "If he doesn't succeed there, don't enlarge his territory." But if you're going to enjoy God's blessing as a family you must learn to cope with difficulties. So:
(1) Try to remember that you're all on the same team. Don't take your frustrations out on your loved ones. Too often, home is where we go when we're tired of being "nice." (2) Before you speak, get the facts. Nothing's more damaging than jumping to conclusions. "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything" (Pr 13:3 NLT). (3) Handle it with wisdom. List all your options and you'll be more objective. That's how you'd handle a problem at work; why not do the same with your family? (4) Find something good in the situation. Scott Peck writes: "It's only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. It's through the pain of confronting them that we learn." No matter how bad things seem, every situation holds something positive-look for it. (5) Make sure they know you love them. It's okay to express how you feel so long as you do it graciously. But make sure your family knows you love them. When people feel loved they can weather almost any crisis. Think: when do you need God's love most? When you deserve it least! Try to follow suit.
