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WORD FOR YOU

Walking with a limp
18 NOVEMBER 2021

‘He was limping because of the injury to his hip.’
Genesis 32:31 NLT

In the Bible, we read this account about Jacob: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”…Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face”….The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping’ (Genesis 32:24-28, 30-31 NLT). Jacob was a farmer. He would have been on his feet all day, so a problem with his hip was one of the last things he wanted. It was something he leaned on every day, and now he was weak in an area that he’d always prided himself on being strong. So he had to depend on God like never before. We can find ourselves in a similar place as Jacob. We might have experienced a painful failure that we can’t hide, so people notice it. God loves to use flawed people because when they become successful in what He’s tasked them with, they humbly give Him the glory rather than becoming arrogant like someone who thinks their success is totally down to their own actions. They’re a little warmer, a little more willing to reach out and embrace others. They understand that without God they wouldn’t have made it. If we limp spiritually, we have to depend on God more – and that’s always a good thing to do.

What Now?

Have you had any successes, big or small, recently? Spend a bit of time thanking God for equipping you to achieve them.

Ezekiel 35-36, 1 Peter 1

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WORD FOR YOU

Making assumptions
19 NOVEMBER 2021

‘Look beneath the surface.’
John 7:24 NLT

We make assumptions based on appearances all the time. It’s a plot point of countless films, books and TV shows: the demanding, expensively dressed hotel guest, who everyone thinks is a hotel inspector, turns out to be a scammer looking to cheat people; the unassuming worker wearing old jeans and a T-shirt, who everyone looks down on, turns out to be the company’s owner. Outward appearances can be misleading, so Jesus encourages us to ‘look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly’ (John 7:24 NLT). James wrote: ‘How can you claim to have faith in…Christ if you favour some people over others…give special attention…to the rich…but…say to the poor…“Stand…there, or…sit on the floor”…Doesn’t this discrimination show…your judgments are guided by evil motives?…If you favour some people over others, you are committing a sin’ (James 2:1, 3-4, 9 NLT). When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king, he was impressed by Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son. Eliab must have looked the part of a king because Samuel was sure this was who God had in mind too. But God said, ‘Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NCV). The person God had actually chosen was Jesse’s youngest son, David, who they hadn’t even bothered to call in from tending sheep. So, let’s look beyond what we see, and try to get a glimpse of the person God sees.

What Now?

Think about the last new person you met. Looking back, are you aware of any judgments or assumptions you made based on their appearance? The next time you meet someone, say a quick prayer asking God to help you see them as He does.

Ezekiel 37-39, 1 Peter 2

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WORD FOR YOU

Being good (1)
20 NOVEMBER 2021

‘The LORD is good and right; he points sinners to the right way.’
Psalm 25:8 NCV

What does it mean to be good? We might think it stems from feeling happy about ourselves and our lives. Some people might say that it can come from having ‘a good life’, the implication being that if we have enough money, a nice house, a good job, and are able to live comfortably, we’re more inclined to try to be a good person. Some might think that the way we feel makes a difference, so things like nice clothes, good food, a long soak in a hot bath – anything thank makes us feel and look good – can influence our level of goodness. But goodness isn’t about feeling good, looking good, or having goods. We can’t judge goodness based on our own opinions because everyone would have a different idea of what’s good and what’s bad. We need a guide, something to measure it by. And we have one in God. He is our standard for goodness. ‘The Lord is good and right; he points sinners to the right way.’ The Bible tells us that only God is good. The Amplified Bible puts it like this: ‘No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone’ (Mark 10:18). That means goodness doesn’t come from what we do, what we have, or how we’re feeling. True goodness only comes from God. That means we need to stay close to Him every moment of the day, to allow Him to fill our lives and influence our thoughts, words, and actions. We need to constantly test what we’re doing against His standard for goodness to make sure they line up. We’ll never be as good as God, but with His help, we can do better each day and get ever closer to His standard for goodness.

What Now?

Have a think about the sort of things you think make someone a good person. Now see if your opinion of goodness lines up with God’s. Ask Him to help you always use Him as your standard for goodness.

Ezekiel 40-41, 1 Peter 3

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WORD FOR YOU

Being good (2)
21 NOVEMBER 2021

‘You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.’
Psalm 119:68 NLT

Sometimes we hear people say, ‘Be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ It’s meant as a joke, but when we unpick the statement, it’s far from funny. It implies at least two things: If we choose to do bad things, we should choose less risky activities; or, if we decide not to be good, we should make sure we’re clever enough not to get caught doing the wrong things. Either way, it makes bad things seem acceptable under certain conditions. But in God’s eyes, choosing the bad thing is never okay. Goodness isn’t a matter of personal preference or our own interpretation. We need to allow God to define our standard for goodness. If we’ve strayed away from His standard and done things wrong, it’s never too late to go back to Him. He won’t turn us away and He won’t love us any less. We should make this our prayer: ‘You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees’ (Psalm 119:65-68 NLT). Our old natures will constantly try to drag us back to our old ways of doing things, so we have to be just as persistent about focusing on God and the new natures He’s given us. As The Message puts it: ‘everything…connected with that old way of life has to go…Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you’ (Ephesians 4:22-24 MSG).

What Now?

Were there any moments yesterday where you wandered away from God’s standard of goodness? Today, tell Him about them, and ask Him to help you always keep His standard of goodness in your thoughts.

Luke 22:1-38, Psalms 119:1-88

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WORD FOR YOU

Being good (3)
22 NOVEMBER 2021

‘They acted with complete honesty.’
2 Kings 12:15 NIV

In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord; it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty’ (2 Kings 12:13-15 NIV). The nation of Israel prospered because the people in charge acted with integrity and honesty. They were trusted, and didn’t do anything to damage that trust. But sadly, leaders aren’t always trusted. In 2019, a survey showed that trust in the British government has been declining for decades, and had reached its lowest level in more than 40 years. People can often think that those in leadership are only trying to get rich and hold on to their power. The problem with this line of thought is that the good leaders are tarnished along with the bad. We need good leaders in all areas of life, and while we should hold our leaders to account, we shouldn’t forget to also encourage good leadership. So how can we do this? 1) Pray for people in authority. Prayer brings God’s influence into any situation. Whether we’re praying for a tutor, our church leader, a politician, or anyone else in a leadership role, God can step in and bring His wisdom and guidance. 2) Support godly leadership. We should take an interest our leaders’ decisions, and praise those actions which show God’s influence at work. We might think we can’t do much, but when we involve God, change can happen.

What Now?

Pray for leaders. Pray for any you know personally (such as your pastor, tutors, or manager), and also for those you may not know personally but who have an effect on your life, such as your local council members or your MP. Ask God to help them place goodness at the heart of every decision they make.

Ezekiel 42-44, 1 Peter 4

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WORD FOR YOU

Weeds among the wheat
23 NOVEMBER 2021

‘An enemy has done this!’
Matthew 13:28 NLT

‘Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, “Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!”…“An enemy has done this!” the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?” they asked. “No,” he replied, “you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds”’ (vv. 24-30 NLT). There are two important lessons here. 1) You must know God’s Word so well that error, regardless of how convincingly it’s presented, can’t mislead you. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus: ‘Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!’ (Acts 20:30-31 NIV). 2) You must stay spiritually awake and alert. Notice, the seeds that were sown that night didn’t produce a harvest of weeds until later. And at that point they could not be uprooted. Perhaps you think this is no big deal. Think again! One degree off course may seem harmless enough. But if you stay on that trajectory long enough, spiritually speaking, you will end up far from where God wants you to be and realise ‘an enemy has done this!’ So what is the answer? ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…to fellowship…the breaking of bread and…prayer’ (Acts 2:42 NIV). Let’s choose to do that too.

What Now?

If you don’t already, try following a Bible reading plan – there’s the Bible in a Year plan at the end of each Word For You reading, or have a look online for one that works for you.

Ezekiel 45-46, 1 Peter 5

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WORD FOR YOU

Don’t get ahead of God
24 NOVEMBER 2021

‘In due season he will honour you with every blessing.’
Psalm 37:34 TLB

When God gives you a promise or a vision for your life, it’s like a seed; it needs time to germinate and grow before it can even begin to bear fruit. It doesn’t happen instantly; there’s a lot of preparation that needs to take place beforehand. First the seed is put in the ground. Then the seed sends out a tiny root. Then a tiny seed leaf or two pushes through the surface.

As the seedling gets stronger, it gets its first true leaves and grows taller. And eventually, as the plant gets bigger and more robust, it begins to produce buds, then flowers, and then fruit. If any part of the process is rushed or forced, the plant will be weaker and less fruitful than it should be. And that’s like us. We might think we’re ready to take on the vision God’s given us, but God knows when we’re really ready, so we need to be patient and listen to Him. Even though David had already been anointed king, he had to wait seven years until God removed Saul from the throne.

But those years weren’t wasted; he learned some valuable lessons during them. Here’s one: ‘Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing’ (v.34 TLB). We mustn’t try to get ahead of God. If you’re feeling impatient with God at the moment, and eager to jump into the vision He’s given you, He might be saying to you: ‘It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will come; it will not be delayed’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NCV).

What Now?

Find a time-lapse video of fruit growing. As you watch each part of the process happening at just the right time to develop a strong plant, thank God for His perfect timing in preparing you for the vision He has for you.

Ezekiel 47-48, 2 Peter 1

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WORD FOR YOU

Get in place
25 NOVEMBER 2021

‘There is a place near me.’
Exodus 33:21 NCV

God told Moses, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will announce my name, the Lord, so you can hear it’ (v.19 NCV). But because (as verse 20 tells us) nobody could look into God’s face directly and live, He said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand.’ Moses had to be in the right place before he could receive the promised blessing of seeing God. God loves to bless us, but He won’t reward sin and disobedience. If He’s told us that He wants us in a certain place, doing a certain task, we should be guided by His will. The Prodigal Son chose to leave his father’s house, a place where he had everything he needed. There are three reasons why he made that choice: 1) He wanted his father’s blessing, but not his authority. Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me, “Lord”…and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46 NIV). 2) He took his father’s blessings for granted. God warned the Israelites: ‘Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you…out of…slavery’ (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV). 3) He didn’t know the risks waiting for him. As a result of leaving his father’s house at the wrong time, he lost everything he had. The path that takes us away from God might begin with pleasure, but it always ends with pain. But ‘those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NCV). We need to get in the right place ­– by God’s side. It doesn’t mean we’ll automatically receive the blessings we want or when we expect, but let’s keep in mind what a privilege and a blessing it is to be able to walk closely with our amazing God.

What Now?

Have a check in with God to make sure you’re on the path He wants you to follow. If you’ve wandered away from it, ask Him to show you what you need to adjust in your life to get back on track.

Daniel 1-2, 2 Peter 2

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WORD FOR YOU

Don’t move too quickly
26 NOVEMBER 2021

‘Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.’
Psalm 37:7 NLT

Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years looking after a flock of sheep in the wilderness. It wasn’t the most impressive start, especially for a future king. But it was where he built his relationship with God and sharpened his skills as a strategist and warrior. God will let us practise in a place where our weaknesses can be worked on, our gifts and skills can be developed, and where the mistakes we make as we’re learning won’t affect too many other people. When a pilot is taking off, they stay in constant communication with air traffic control. They’ll be told, ‘You’re cleared for five thousand feet.’ Then they’ll be told to hold and wait for further instructions. Then, ‘You’re cleared for ten thousand feet,’ ‘You’re cleared for twenty thousand feet,’ and so on, until they’ve reached the height they need to continue their journey safely. There are two points for us to take note of here. First, the pilot never loses touch with air traffic control, and listens to their guidance. Second, they can’t just go up to maximum height straight away; the controller sees the bigger picture and clears them in stages to ensure there are no other aircraft or hazards in the way. And we need to do the same when it comes to following God’s plan. He sees the whole journey and knows that if we rise too quickly, there are dangers. When we trust Him, we’ll get to our destination safely. God’s plan can’t be rushed. Maybe you’re in a ‘wilderness’ at the moment, but it won’t last forever. ‘Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.’

What Now?

Find a live flight tracker online. As you watch the planes moving across the map, thank God that He sees the whole route in your journey with Him and knows all the potential hazards and obstacles. Whenever you see or hear a plane flying, use it as a reminder to check in with Him that you’re on the right track.

Daniel 3-4, 2 Peter 3

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WORD FOR YOU!

Take the initiative (1)
27 NOVEMBER 2021

‘Be strong and brave, because you will lead these people.’
Deuteronomy 31:7 NCV

When God gives us an unconditional promise, all we need to do is wait for it to happen. But when He makes a conditional promise, we have a part to play in order to see it fulfilled. Sometimes that calls for taking the initiative. For Israel, it meant being willing to face opposition and drive the occupying nations from the promised land so it could be theirs. ‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in front of the people, “Be strong and brave, because you will lead these people into the land the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and help them take it as their own. The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Don’t be afraid and don’t worry”’ (v.7-8 NCV). God encouraged Joshua to take the initiative, promising that He would go ahead of Joshua and act on his behalf if Joshua would carry out the task and trust Him. And He’s saying the same thing to us today. Here is what it means to take the initiative: 1) Knowing what you want. We can’t be indecisive and be effective at the same time. We need to be clear about what we want and what God wants us to do, otherwise we’ll come to a standstill and never move from where we are. 2) Being willing to take risks. When God gives us a job to do, He’s promised to go before us and arrange the circumstances in our favour. Taking the initiative can be scary. Faith in God doesn’t eliminate fear – it overcomes it. So be brave and take the initiative.

What Now?

Are you unsure about what decision to make about something? Set aside some time today to talk to God about it and ask for His wisdom. Be ready to do what He says, knowing that He’s going before us.

Daniel 5-7, 1 John 1