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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Going forwards or going back
01 MAY 2024

‘Wherever you go, I will go.’
Ruth 1:16 NKJV

The book of Ruth illustrates the difference between those who step out in faith and take risks, and those who give in to fear, play it safe, and miss God’s best for them. The book begins with these words: ‘There was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife [Naomi] and his two sons’ (v. 1 NKJV).

Things went well for a while, then tragedy struck. First Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons. They married local girls named Orpah and Ruth and then the sons died. Overwhelmed with grief, Naomi decides to return home to Bethlehem and advises her two daughters-in-law to stay in Moab and hopefully find husbands and raise families.

This is where the difference shows up in the two girls. Orpah decided to stay in Moab, even though it was a place of heartache and hard times. Why? Because it was the place she knew. It was her comfort zone. She didn’t have the faith to go forwards. Ruth was different. She said to Naomi: ‘Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God’ (v. 16 NKJV).

Orpah went back, Ruth went forwards. And it paid off. Back in Bethlehem, she met Boaz, her new husband. Not only was he wealthy, but he took good care of her, and they had a son from whom descended both King David and our blessed Lord Jesus. God rewards faith, not fear. So the word for today is – it’s time to break with the past and move forwards.

1 Samuel 22-24, John 13:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Come out of that corner
02 MAY 2024

‘You shall not wholly reap the corners of your field.’
Leviticus 23:22 NKJV

Under Old Testament law, God commanded Jewish farmers: ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field…You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger’ (v. 22 NKJV). Ruth was working in an obscure corner of a field owned by a wealthy man named Boaz, who is a beautiful type of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. When Boaz saw Ruth, he called her out of the corner and into the midst of the harvest field. And he instructed the reapers to drop handfuls of wheat in her path so that she wouldn’t have to work for it (see Ruth 2:16).

There is a lesson here. One moment of God’s favour can change your life. And He can do it through someone He has already prepared, someone you haven’t even met yet. Ruth didn’t know it, but because Boaz was related to her mother-in-law Naomi, that positioned him to be her ‘kinsman-redeemer’ (see Ruth 3:1-9), who was someone qualified to wipe out her debt, and care for her, and meet her needs.

Jesus said, ‘Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly’ (Matthew 6:4 NKJV). Be assured, God has not overlooked you. Others may not notice your faithfulness, but He does, and He will reward you for it. ‘God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister’ (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV). One of these days God is going to say to you, ‘Come out of that corner!’

1 Samuel 25-26, John 13:21-38

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Tell the truth
03 MAY 2024

‘The LORD…delights in those who tell the truth.’
Proverbs 12:22 NLT

Are you in a situation where lying seems to be the only viable solution? Unless you want to create a problem between God and yourself – don’t do it! ‘The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.’ When you lie, you hurt God, others, and yourself. ‘Dishonesty destroys treacherous people’ (Proverbs 11:3 NLT). Lying always comes with consequences because of the following:

1) God hears you. When you decide to pray, the last thing you will want to discuss with God is the first thing He will want to discuss with you; namely, your dishonesty!

2) It robs you of your confidence before God. The Bible says, ‘If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him’ (1 John 3:21-22 NLT).

3) You risk being exposed. Remember, ‘Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed’ (Proverbs 12:19 NLT). When people discover you have lied, they lose respect for you, their trust level plummets, and a reputation that has taken years for you to build suffers a blow you may not recover from.

Paul writes: ‘Since you have heard about Jesus and…learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbours the truth, for we are all parts of the same body’ (Ephesians 4:21-25 NLT).

1 Samuel 27-29, John 14

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Honour God, and He will honour you
05 MAY 2024

‘The form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’
Daniel 3:25 NKJV

There comes a time when we have to face our fears and take a stand for what we know is right. That’s what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did. They risked their lives when they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. They could have rationalised, ‘I’ll bow on the outside, but not on the inside,’ or ‘I’ll just pretend the idol is Jehovah.’ But they took a stand for what is right, and it set the stage for miracles. ‘Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished…saying to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”’ (vv. 24-25 NKJV).

When you place yourself in a defenceless position, it sets the stage for God to show up. But if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had bowed to the idol, 1) they would not have received promotions, 2) the Jewish people would not have gained protected status within the Babylonian kingdom, 3) idol worship would have continued in Babylon, and 4) Nebuchadnezzar would not have experienced a life-changing encounter with God. ‘Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God…who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him…there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon’ (vv. 28-30 NKJV). By honouring God today, you are positioning yourself for Him to bless and honour you.

Luke 8:26-56, Psalms 46-48

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Moving from failure to success (1)
06 MAY 2024

‘This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands.’
1 Samuel 17:46 NIV

Everyone who ever achieved anything significant had to beat the odds. The problem for most of us isn’t the odds; it’s that we sell ourselves short. As R.H. Headlee observed, ‘Most people think too small, aim too low, and quit too soon.’ The odds in favour of David defeating Goliath weren’t good. Unless you factor faith in God into the equation, which David did. Listen to his words: ‘I’ll strike you down and cut off your head’ (v. 46 NIV). Clearly, David was aiming high.

And when it comes to the thing God is calling you to do, aim high. The odds matter little. Whether you fall down along the way matters little. You fell when you were learning to walk, didn’t you? Dr Maxwell Maltz says, ‘You’re a champion in the art of living if you reach only 65 per cent of your goals.’ If the odds indicate you will make a lot of mistakes on your way to success, so be it. As long as you’re eventually successful, isn’t that what matters? Remember, ‘If at first you don’t succeed – you know you’re running about average!’ As long as you keep trusting God and trying, He will come to your aid.

James writes, ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NIV). Paul writes, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NIV). When you believe God wants you to succeed, and you persevere, you move from failure to success.

2 Samuel 1-2, John 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Moving from failure to success (2)
07 MAY 2024

‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’
Job 8:7 NKJV

It’s easier to recognise success looking back than it is looking forward. For some of us, it can be many years before we recognise our success, celebrate it, and feel secure in it. That’s because we lack a proper perspective. At its widest point, the Mississippi River requires a two-mile-wide steel span bridge to get across; while at its source, the stream is so small you can jump over it. But it’s still the same river. Most things start small!

Have you ever heard the Serenity Prayer? It goes like this: ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.’ It was first prayed in a little church in Massachusetts by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr during a Sunday morning service. Only a small group of people was in the congregation that day, but one person liked the prayer and, after the service, he asked Niebuhr for a copy. ‘Here,’ Niebuhr responded, handing over a crumpled piece of paper. ‘I doubt I’ll ever have any more use for it.’ Well, guess what? Next to the Lord’s Prayer, it’s the most used prayer in the world. Isn’t it ironic that Niebuhr’s prayer became so popular? Evidently, his perspective wasn’t too good because he didn’t know what he had.

With that story in mind, read this Scripture again and really think about it: ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ With God’s help, you can turn your failure into success and go on to greater things.

2 Samuel 3-5, John 17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The right attitude (1)
08 MAY 2024

‘Let each esteem others better than himself.’
Philippians 2:3 NKJV

Observe: 1) The right attitude makes a difference in your relationships. Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘The most important single ingredient in the formula for success is knowing how to get along with people.’ And Paul writes: ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). If your track record with people isn’t too good, maybe you need to look at your attitude. While it’s true that some people just seem to have a winning way with others, someone with limited people skills can learn to win with others if he or she decides to change their attitude and approach.

2) Your attitude makes a difference in how you face life’s challenges. During the Korean War when US Marine Chesty Puller found himself surrounded by eight enemy divisions, his response was, ‘All right, they are on our left. They are on our right. They’re in front of us. They’re behind us – they can’t get away from us this time!’ In life, problems, challenges, obstacles, and failures are unavoidable. So, how are you going to deal with them? Will you give up? Will you let conditions make you miserable? Or are you going to attempt to make the best of things? Which path you select depends on your attitude. The old saying is true: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Remember the times in your life when you have grown the most. Weren’t they times when you had to overcome obstacles and problems?

2 Samuel 6-8, John 18:1-8

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The right attitude (2)
09 MAY 2024

‘All things are possible to him who believes.’
Mark 9:23 NKJV

Demosthenes, who was reputed to be the greatest orator in ancient Greece, had a serious speech impediment. Legend has it that he overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking above the roar of the waves at the seashore. As a prisoner in the Wartburg castle, Martin Luther made use of his time by translating the New Testament into German. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonic masterpieces after losing his hearing. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison. Daniel Defoe also wrote in prison, creating Robinson Crusoe. Abraham Lincoln is thought by many to be the best of the United States presidents, but he probably would not have become known as a great leader if he had not led the country through the Civil War.

Often, difficult situations seem to be involved in producing great leaders and thinkers. But that is only the case when their attitudes are right. When a problem comes in contact with someone who has the right attitude, the result is often wonderful. Out of great turmoil come great diplomats, business people, scientists, educators, pastors, and others. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every opportunity has a challenge. But it’s the attitude with which you approach your problem that largely determines the outcome.

When a man whose son couldn’t hear or speak asked Jesus to heal him, Jesus replied, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’ (v. 23 NKJV). The man replied, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’ (v. 24 NKJV). And Jesus did. Plus, He healed the man’s son. If you need help with your attitude, talk to the Lord today.

2 Samuel 9-11, John 18:19-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

It’s not too small for God
10 MAY 2024

‘And the iron did swim.’
2 Kings 6:6 KJV

Second Kings 6 tells of a prophet chopping trees near a river when his iron axe head falls in. He said to Elisha: ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed’ (v. 5 NKJV). He uses the past tense. As far as he is concerned, this axe head is gone forever. He has no expectation whatsoever that the axe head will be retrieved. He shows Elisha where he lost it. Elisha cuts a stick and flings it into the water, and something happens that most likely never happened before or since. ‘And the iron did swim.’

Notice, this isn’t a life-or-death situation. Yes, it’s a loaned axe head. Yes, it disappeared. But if that’s the worst thing you have gone through, you have led a pretty sheltered life. You could put this into the same category as Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding party. Why waste your first miracle on helping a bride and groom avoid embarrassment because they didn’t stock enough wine for their reception?

This reveals something about God. He concerns Himself with the little things, like wedding receptions and borrowed axe heads. Nothing is too big for our great God, and nothing is too small for Him either. ‘Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV). Note the words ‘all your care’. If it matters to you, it matters to your loving heavenly Father. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV). Note the words ‘all your ways’. Today God wants you to share every detail of your life with Him.

2 Samuel 12-13, John 19:1-22

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Raising great kids in a troubled world (1)
11 MAY 2024

‘Teach children in a way that fits their needs.’
Proverbs 22:6 ERV

If you’re a parent, do you ever wish for a parenting do-over – a second chance to raise your kids? With hindsight and insight, you think you would do it right this time! Parenting is both rewarding and guilt inducing. It’s rewarding because we love our children and they bring us joy. It’s guilt inducing because we blame ourselves for their shortcomings and misfortunes. ‘Where did I go wrong as a parent?’ There is no perfect parent, and there is no universal blueprint because every child is born unique.

Psychologists told us our children were born a ‘blank slate’, waiting for us to write life instructions on them. Not so! Babies are miniature people, ‘born in sin and shapen in iniquity’ (see Psalm 51:5). They are given to us to figure out as we try to mould them spiritually, morally, socially, and intellectually. By age seven, they have learned about 75 per cent of everything they will ever know.

But although there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success, there are God-given principles that work whether you’re a new parent or a grandparent, or someone who works with children. ‘Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path’ (Proverbs 22:6 ERV). Notice some keywords here. ‘Teach’, which implies imparting information in a consistent, understandable way. Toddlers learn better with pictures. Older kids need us to use contemporary language. If they don’t ‘get it’, we probably didn’t teach it well enough! ‘Children’ means old enough to understand. ‘A way that fits their needs’ implies knowing their personality and abilities and tailoring your teaching to fit them. When God’s principles fit the child’s unique characteristics, they’re more likely to adopt and follow them.

2 Samuel 14-15, John 19:23-42