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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Blind chance versus God’s command (2)
06 JANUARY 2024

‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.’

Hebrews 11:3 NIV
Speaking of our amazing bodies…what about DNA? Each human cell (up to 100 trillion) contains a database larger than the Encyclopedia Britannica! Could all that have originated by chance? English physicist Paul Davies makes this comparison: ‘It’s rather like exploding a stick of dynamite under a pile of bricks and expecting it to build a house. You may liberate enough energy to raise the bricks, but without coupling the energy to the bricks in a controlled way, there’s little hope of producing anything other than a chaotic mess.’

Clearly it requires more than a pile of bricks to build a house. The intelligence of the architect and the skill of the builder are key components. And it’s the same with all the complexities of a human being. The odds are zero that all the required elements necessary to initiate human life just happened to assemble themselves in the same spot on earth at the same time. And even if we did accept that notion, blind chance couldn’t put those 100 trillion cells together in the order required to produce life.

Prominent scientist Francis Crick wasn’t noted for his faith, but even he said, ‘The origin of life seems almost to be a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going.’ And what’s the miracle? The psalmist said, ‘You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:13-14 NIV). That’s the miracle!

Genesis 16-17, Matthew 5:27-48

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Work on improving your communication skills
07 JANUARY 2024

‘When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.’
Proverbs 21:11 NKJV

Whether in your personal life or your career, learning how to communicate with others is essential to success and happiness in a relationship. Apart from obtaining facts, communication should deliver a way to gain some understanding into the heart and mind of another person. And good communication calls for translation. Really, you’re learning that other person’s language.

We all use the same words, but we have unique languages when it comes to love. What you mean when you say, ‘I need someone to be here for me,’ might not be what the other person means when they say, ‘I will be here for you.’ You need to learn their language without prior assumptions and incorrect projections weighing you down. Such interpersonal literacy will serve you well for years to come. It will stop you from treating her as though she is simply you in a different shape, or imagining that he is just like your best girlfriend, etc. We all need to love and be loved, but we use different means of communication to express our desires. Don’t be fearful of checking terms and comparing definitions to make sure you’re both singing from the same song sheet.

A respected Bible teacher puts it like this: ‘Often in my own conversations, I will say, “Let me tell you what I heard so I can see if that is what you meant.” I am shocked at how many times I hear something totally different from what is intended!’ Lasting happiness doesn’t come from owning things, it comes from having good relationships. So, work on improving your communication skills. It’s well worth the investment!

Luke 1:1-20, Psalms 1-3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You are under God’s protection
08 JANUARY 2024

‘He…shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’
Psalm 91:1 NKJV

What is ‘the shadow of the Almighty’? In the wilderness where Israel wandered for forty years, temperatures could get up to 120 or 130 degrees. There was no shade except what was provided by the tents in which the people lived. So they understood this powerful metaphor, ‘under the shadow of the Almighty’.

If you were lost in the desert the children of Israel were required by the law of hospitality to satisfy your need for food, water, protection from an enemy, and shade from the blistering sun. It worked like this: first you had to find out the chief shepherd’s name. Then you would take hold of the cord on his tent and cry out for help. When you did that, the law of hospitality required him to take you into the safety of his tent. Indeed, that same law said he had to protect you with his very life. Are you getting the idea?

God’s name, El Shaddai, describes two wonderful aspects of His character. ‘El’ speaks of His power and strength. ‘Shaddai’ literally means ‘strong-breasted-one’, which refers to the gentleness of a nursing mother. Some days you have to go to God for the strength needed to withstand the enemy’s attack; other days you just need to go to Him and let Him hold you in His arms and comfort you. The poet wrote, ‘Let me no more my comfort draw, from my frail grasp on Thee; in this alone rejoice with awe – Thy mighty grasp of me.’ When things get too ‘hot’ for you, run to ‘the shadow of the Almighty’.

Genesis 18-19, Matthew 6:1-15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The gift of confession
09 JANUARY 2024

‘Walk in love as Christ also has loved us.’
Ephesians 5:2 NKJV

Spiritual healing takes place when you’re able to confess your problem to someone mature enough to handle it and committed enough to not give up on you. What does it mean to ‘walk in love’? a) To be confident of God’s unfailing love towards you. b) To show His love to others. c) To be able to accept their love in return. Only then can you become spiritually whole.

You can only be loved to the extent that you’re known. When you keep part of your life a secret, others may tell you they love you, but deep inside you think, ‘If you knew the whole truth about me, you wouldn’t love me.’ So, you’re unable to receive and be strengthened by their love. Sin isolates us, and sin and isolation will make us sick in our soul, and even our body. Confession and then prayer, connectedness to each other and to God, ushers in the Spirit and promotes healing. To be fully known and fully loved is the most healing gift we can give to each other.

The Bible says, ‘Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed’ (James 5:16 NASB). We’re all forgiven, recovering sinners, and no one can be secure in a relationship if they’re loved only because they’re intelligent, strong, pretty, or successful. One Bible teacher says: ‘When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find it is those who instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.’

Genesis 20-22, Matthew 6:16-34

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are you dealing with relationship problems?
10 JANUARY 2024

‘The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.’
Proverbs 24:16 NLT

When it comes to handling relationships, we all have our pluses and minuses, strengths and weaknesses. So to survive and flourish in a relationship, we must learn to persevere. Even when we have done the best we can to lessen our potential for failure, we must still be ready for it. If we stay mired in self-defeat, guilt, and shame over missed chances and incorrect choices in one particular relationship, we will never encounter the freedom to sustain our other relationships.

One pastor says: ‘To counter that, I allow myself a 10 per cent ratio for failure in a relationship to work out the way I thought it would.’ That’s good advice! So with that in mind, promise yourself that no matter what circumstances occur, or which relationships fail miserably, you will survive. You will arise, learn from them, draw closer to God, and, if nothing else, thank Him for the blessings that still remain in your life. And when you consider them, you will notice many!

When you think about the long list of gifts that remain in your life even in the middle of difficulties, losses, and frustrations, you’re better able to see the big picture and not just the current trouble in front of your eyes. Gratitude is a sure remedy for self-pity and despair. Thanksgiving lifts you back to a position of seeing your relationships and life more clearly. Question: Do you really want this relationship to work? If so, commit to praying for the other person, loving them unconditionally, and investing in them. When you do that, trust God to do the rest!

Genesis 23-24, Matthew 7

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What it means to ‘love’ someone
11 JANUARY 2024

‘As we live in God, our love grows more perfect.’
1 John 4:17 NLT

In today’s culture, the word ‘love’ means different things to different people. You can love your husband or wife, your country, your dog, your new mobile phone, and your car. But you don’t love your husband or wife the same way you love your mobile phone or your car, right? The television and tabloid kind of love where you fall in and out of love at the drop of a hat isn’t real love, it’s selfishness and immaturity. The Bible word agape (God’s love) is an unconditional commitment to love that’s rooted in an unchanging decision. It always gives, and doesn’t change whether the love is returned or not. It’s a decision of your heart to seek the other person’s highest good, no matter how they may respond.

When the King James Bible translators came upon the Greek word agape, in addition to using the English word ‘love’ to transliterate it, they often chose the word ‘charity’. This was meant to reinforce the idea that love is a selfless, unconditional, giving love. And as such, it directs kindness, respect, and loyalty towards the loved one. ‘God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect’ (vv. 16-17 NLT). What causes us to stand out from the world isn’t our words but our love for one another. When we can overcome our differences, when we can cross lines of denomination, race, and culture and truly love one another, the world is drawn to Christ and it pays attention to what we say (see John 13:35).

Genesis 25-26, Matthew 8:1-17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t be afraid of getting old (1)
12 JANUARY 2024

‘My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’
Isaiah 65:22 NIV

We live in a fickle society where a few wrinkles can devastate your self-worth. But you don’t have to be a victim of that value system. ‘As the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands’ (v. 22 NIV). Someone said, ‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!’ So:

1) Build a strong relationship with God. Spend time talking with Him and reading His Word. ‘Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying’ (Proverbs 3:1-2 NLT).

2) Come to grips with the reality of ageing. Face it, you have been ageing from the moment you were conceived. In fact, on the day of your birth, you were already nine months old. Therefore, fretting about getting older is as fruitless as worrying about the sun going down each day. Instead of worrying about the length of your life, maximise every day of it. Each morning look in the mirror and announce, ‘This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it’ (see Psalm 118:24).

3) Always have a goal. It doesn’t have to be something big in the eyes of the world, just something to look forward to doing with your hands and your mind. Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘I could not at any age be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.’ Read, grow, contribute, stay involved, live until your last breath!

Genesis 27-28, Matthew 8:18-34

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t be afraid of getting old (2)
13 JANUARY 2024

‘They shall still bear fruit in old age.’
Psalm 92:14 NKJV

Does the thought of getting older depress you, make you anxious, or make you fatalistic in your outlook? If so, read this: ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). Here is how to stay ‘fresh and flourishing’ as you grow older:

1) Guard your health. Studies show that good health is the number-one factor in determining the level of happiness in old age. So try to eat healthy, and exercise often if you can. Drink lots of water, take your daily vitamins, and get regular medical check-ups. These efforts will not guarantee you more time, but they will help improve the quality of your time here on earth.

2) Look your best. Dress stylishly at every age, as your budget will allow. When you look good, you feel good – and inspired. But keep your quest for attractiveness in balance. Remember God’s words to Samuel: ‘The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). Think twice, examine your motives, seek God’s advice, and do your homework before you submit to cosmetic procedures. Some can be costly and downright dangerous.

3) Look for someone to help. Mother Teresa said, ‘We cannot do great things. We can only do little things with great love.’ You will be amazed at the sense of strength, self-worth, and satisfaction you feel when you meet the needs of others. An unknown poet wrote, ‘It’s loving and giving that makes life worth living!’

Genesis 29-30, Matthew 9:1-17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Growing through criticism
14 JANUARY 2024

‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.’
Proverbs 13:18 NLT

Solomon said, ‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.’ Charlie Shedd gives us ten ways to grow through criticism:

1) Criticism is often a compliment. The barbs in daily life strike only those who raise their heads above ground level. Jesus said, ‘Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down…it means…that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable’ (Luke 6:22 MSG).

2) Accept that you have faults which are open to censure. Stay humble, and criticism won’t rattle you.

3) ‘The words of the godly save lives’ (Proverbs 12:6 NLT). Invite criticism from friends; then when it comes from your enemies, you will be broken in.

4) Let criticism make you better. When you burn with anger, you destroy the passport to your own improvement. ‘When you do right and suffer for it…take it patiently’ (1 Peter 2:20 RSV).

5) Some criticism should be ignored, especially if it stems from false motives. Never give unhappy people the key to your happiness.

6) Keep it in perspective. Everybody hasn’t heard. Most people don’t care. One bad word doesn’t cancel the good in you.

7) Let criticism make you kinder. Remind yourself that you have criticised others too. Is this a boomerang that started in your own heart?

8) Pray for your critics. It will improve them and neutralise your bitterness. Hate destroys your health and steals your happiness.

9) Check with the Master Critic. What does God say? How do things look deep in your soul?

10) When you have checked to make sure you’re right, move ahead. In quiet confidence finish what you started, because God’s promises are to those who endure (see Hebrews 6:12).

Luke 1:21-38, Psalms 4-6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Guard against envy and jealousy
15 JANUARY 2024

‘Let us have…no envy of one another.’
Galatians 5:26 RSV

Paul cautioned the early church about envy, and it’s still a problem. Your co-worker gets a raise, a friend’s child wins a scholarship, a neighbour takes a dream holiday. Do you rejoice with them, or force a tight smile? We’re human; an occasional flicker of envy is normal. But beware of harbouring a chronic sense of being short-changed. Tacitus said, ‘When men are full of envy, they disparage everything…good or bad.’ When somebody else prospers, before you ask, ‘Why not me?’ ask yourself if you would be responding the same way if some tragedy had befallen them.

Jealousy is like a moth; it nibbles away at clothes until they’re ruined, except envy destroys irreplaceable things like relationships and families. One author reminds us: ‘When we’re…in the valley, it is human to envy those…[on] the mountaintops. It is easy to forget [they] didn’t fall there – they climbed there. Behind the success story is always a courageous decision and a gallant action…If we want to reach them…we have to…climb. Inspiration from someone else may get us started, but the success is in the climbing.’

Imagine a runner striding out; they’re fast, focused, and ahead of the pack. Then they start looking at the competition. Before long they stumble, lose momentum, and drop out. That’s what happens when you let jealousy distract you from completing the course God mapped out for you. Paul writes, ‘You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?’ (Galatians 5:7 NIV). Keep your eye on the prize, and don’t get distracted by what others have and don’t have. That’s none of your business.

Genesis 31-32, Matthew 9:18-38