The Word for Today is just for you

‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.’ Proverbs 19:21 NIV

Have you heard the saying, ‘The devil is in the details’? But for a redeemed child of God, Jesus is in the details! When you set your heart on something, and it doesn’t happen, it’s only human to experience disappointment. At such moments, here is what you need to keep in mind:

(1) At best, you’re always working with limited information. You may know the end result you desire, but God knows what’s best for you, and He plans accordingly. ‘I am God… declaring the end from the beginning… saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”’ (Isaiah 46:9–10 NKJV)

(2) Trying to work outside of God’s will is like attempting to dig your way through a solid wall with a fork. Instead of digging your way out of a prison, you dig your way into one when you demand to get what you want. Do you really want to carry out a plan God hasn’t ordained? Can you depend on Him to know what’s best for you? ‘For the Lord of armies has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?’ (Isaiah 14:27 NASB)

It’s better to be disappointed temporarily than end up with something you can’t handle. The story of Israel reads like this: ‘He… redeemed them from the hand of the enemy… Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel… and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.’ (Psalm 106:10–15 NKJV) Trust God, and He will give you what’s best.

SoulFood: Acts 12–13, Mk 1:1–13, Ps 103:13–22, Prov 10:30–32

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.’ 1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV

Have you ever opened a Christmas present only to be disappointed at what you were given? You look around and see that others received nicer presents than yours, and some even received 2 great presents, which puts a damper on your Christmas experience. Maybe someone noticed your disappointment and offered to swap your present for something you like better.

The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We may be unhappy at the gift we’ve received from God and envious of the gifts God has given others. So, you take it upon yourself to swap it for something you like better. That’s why so many people are running around claiming to be an apostle, a prophet, or a teacher—they’re gift-swapping. You don’t get to decide what gift God gives you. The Bible says, ‘God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.’ (1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV)

Sometimes, it takes years for you to recognise your gift and start operating in it. Instead of coveting another person’s gift, be thankful for your own and ask God to use it to bless as many people as possible. And if you have questions about it, search the Scriptures. Paul says, ‘God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29 NIV); ‘However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one's faith’ (Romans 12:6 NASB); ‘But, each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that’ (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV); ‘But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.’ (1 Corinthians 12:11 NKJV) So, use the gift God gave you.

SoulFood: Acts 10–11, Mt 28:11–20, Ps 103:1–12, Prov 10:27–29

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘This story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.’ Matthew 28:15 NIV

Here are two more pieces of evidence of Christ’s resurrection:

(1) You would be hard-pressed to find a time in recorded history when someone willingly gave up their life for what they knew to be a lie. Paul E. Little said, ‘Men will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie.’ The fact that those early disciples were willing to endure such suffering makes the foundations of Christianity unshakable.

(2) Christ’s enemies went to incredible lengths to disprove the resurrection. ‘When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy [bribe] him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.’ (Matthew 28:12–15 NIV)

There has never been a witness in history allowed to testify to what transpired while he or she was asleep. And for a Roman soldier to fall asleep on duty meant a certain death penalty. Indeed, if Jesus had still been in the tomb, or if they had taken His body and placed it somewhere else, why did the Jewish leaders not say so? No, they were paralysed and powerless to do anything about it. Their only option—the one they took—was to initiate great persecution against all Christians. But it failed then, and it fails now because Jesus is alive!

SoulFood: 1 Cor 15, Mt 28:1–10, Lk 24:1–12

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?’ 1 Corinthians 15:12 NIV

Here are three pieces of evidence that will convince any open-minded seeker of the truth of Christ’s physical resurrection from the dead:

(1) The Christian sacraments.The Christian sacraments point to the death and suffering of Christ and also to His resurrection and power. These can be traced back in uninterrupted sequence to the exact time of the death of Jesus Christ.

(2) Christian art. In the catacombs of Rome, from the period of the persecutions, we discover etched into the walls, depictions of the resurrection of Christ as an element of the earliest Christian beliefs.

(3) The Christian church. Consider the undeniable fact of the Christian church. Numerous people do not realise the link between the church and the resurrection, but scholars do.

The Christian church is the biggest institution that exists or has ever existed in the world’s history. It is five times larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest scope. In fact, more than two billion people today acknowledge their worship of Jesus Christ as the alive and risen Son of God.

How did such an institution come into and stay in existence? Someone quipped, ‘The Grand Canyon wasn’t formed by a person dragging a stick.’ Neither was an institution the magnitude of the Christian church created by the fancies of idle dreamers in days past. Historians recognise that the Christian church can be tracked all the way back to the city of Jerusalem in AD 30, the time of the death and resurrection of Christ. So, in truth, we can say, ‘Christ is risen indeed!’

SoulFood: Joel 1–3, Mt 27:1–10, Ps 56, Prov 10:14–16

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Often I have longed to gather your children… as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.’ Matthew 23:37 NIV

Andrea Midgett writes: ‘One winter night years ago, I went outside to check on the animals in my father’s barn. It was so cold, the water in the horses’ trough had frozen solid. As I went to get an axe to chop through the ice, I noticed a hen perched nearby with several chicks tucked under her wings. She had turned her face and frail body into the storm, her wings outstretched, covering them securely. Suddenly I was uplifted by this picture of Jesus caring for me. But it struck me that those chicks had to come to the mother hen first. Maybe she chased some of them around the yard. Maybe others came willingly. Maybe some were still out there half-frozen. (There were a few late arrivals perched on top of her wings). I only know that the ones underneath had allowed themselves to be gathered up and protected. They’d quit fighting what they couldn’t control. They’d acknowledged that they needed somebody bigger than themselves, who was willing to save them. When I see the cross, I think of the outstretched arms of Jesus. There He is, dying a slow and terrible death with his arms wide open, saying to us, “Often I have longed to gather [you]… as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” The cross is God’s invitation to you to stop struggling and come in from the cold. Why don’t you come today?

SoulFood: Gen 22:1–18, Mt 27:33–56, Ps 22, Is 53

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.’ John 13:5 NKJV

When it came to serving others, Jesus was first. He ‘rose from supper and… laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He… poured water into a basin and… began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded… Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”’ (John 13:4–6 NKJV) Try to imagine God incarnate with an apron on, kneeling to wash the feet of those who were unworthy.

The Bible says, ‘Jesus… laid aside His garments.’ If you want to serve others, you must be willing to lay aside your image, your comfort, and your agenda. By laying aside His garments, Jesus demonstrated that God has no time for form or fashion.

Real ministry isn’t image-conscious; it’s done with complete disregard for distinction. But Peter didn’t get it! He was embarrassed to think Jesus would let Himself be seen in such a demeaning light. So, Jesus said: ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord… If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you… If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’ (John 13:13–17 NKJV) There are certain things in your life that must be set aside in order to serve others and do the will of God.

If you want to be blessed, don’t join those who delight in their own speeches and who trumpet their own accomplishments. Set aside everything you privately glory in and pick up the towel of servanthood. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. You go first!

SoulFood: Acts 8–9, Mt 27:57–66, Ps 130, Prov 10:24–26

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.’ Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV

Let’s read what God said to the parents who entered the promised land: ‘Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.’ (Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV)

Notice the progression here. First, ‘take heed to yourself’. Next, ‘teach them to your children’. Your ability to influence and mould the children you care for is based on your credibility with them. When the principles you live by produce joy, peace, strength, kindness, discipline, and success, the children who look up to you will begin to take you seriously. And you have a limited window of opportunity. There are skills that can be learned during early childhood that become much more difficult later on.

Have you ever wondered why it’s simple to teach preschoolers any language they hear? And they can learn it perfectly, without a trace of their own accent. 15 or more years later, they will have a much harder time make those same sounds. This is explained by a process called ‘phoneme contraction’. The larynx of a young child assumes a shape needed to make any sounds he or she is learning to use. It then sets in those positions, making it impossible or challenging to make other sounds in later years.

A child’s attitude towards parental leadership and the guidance of carers is similar. That’s why it’s essential to ‘shape the will’ during the preschool and early years by balancing unconditional love with consistent teaching and firmness at home. If you miss that opportunity, the adolescent years can be rougher than they need to be.

SoulFood: Acts 6–7, Mt 27:26–32, Ps 75, Prov 10:22–23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.’ Deuteronomy 6:6–7 NIV

If you’re a parent, are you trying to keep your children under lock and key in order to keep them out of trouble? Or if you’re a teacher or Sunday school leader, do you try to impose strict rules? It won’t work. You’re not keeping them out of trouble; you’re simply postponing it. Things like curfews, dress codes, phone use, and checking up on their friends are part of good parenting and good teaching. But when you are not around to guide them, they need sound principles to live by.

And those principles can be found in God’s Word: ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NIV)

Isn’t it interesting that each succeeding generation views the previous one as old-fashioned and out of date? And that’s not all bad. Every generation believes there is a better way to do things, and that is the foundation for progress. That’s why getting from Tonga to Rarotonga takes only a few hours by plane instead of a week by sailing boat. God’s Word can stand the test of scrutiny. So, instead of shutting them down, invite children to ask questions and challenge assumptions, then help them arrive at solid Scriptural convictions to live by. As someone who cares for children, there is no greater gift you can give them.

SoulFood: Acts 3:11–5:42, Mt 27:19–25, Ps 127, Prov 10:19–21

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘The seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.’ Mark 4:27 NKJV

Have you sown a ‘seed’ of faith, and now you’re wondering when you will reap the ‘harvest’ God promised in His Word? If so, read on: ‘And He said, “The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’ (Mark 4:26–29 NKJV) Before you reap the harvest of blessing God promised, you go through certain stages.

First, there is the ‘not knowing’ stage. Your seed is buried in the ground. How and when your harvest comes is entirely up to God. But you must believe that it will happen. Next comes the ‘blade’ stage. It’s just a tiny blade blowing in the breeze, but it’s enough to encourage you and let you know your harvest is on the way. Next comes the ‘head’ stage. The seed has started to sprout and look like what you prayed for. This is when you must water it with prayer, fertilise it with God’s Word, and protect it from anything or anyone that would uproot it through doubt and unbelief. Finally, you enter the ‘full grain’ stage when the grain ripens, and you immediately reap a harvest. Whatever stage you’re in today, stand fast and keep trusting God. Your harvest is on the way.

SoulFood: Acts 1:1–3:10, Mt 27:11–18, Ps 43, Prov 10:17–18

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.’ Proverbs 14:12 NIV

You can be sincere in your intentions—but sincerely wrong. The Bible says the rain falls on ‘the just and the unjust alike.’ (Matthew 5:45 NLT) The law of cause and effect applies to everybody, and all your good intentions won’t bring you to the right destination if you’re on the wrong road. Think about it like this: maybe you have considered putting your savings into a farm partnership. You do the research, and things look good. So, you proceed on the assumption it’s a sound decision. Then, the unexpected happens. The crop fails. It’s not your fault; you were sincere in your decision but you still lose.

You can’t afford to put your trust in what ‘seems right to a… man’ (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV); you must pursue those things that are right in God’s eyes. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.’ (John 14:6 NLT) That means unless you have committed your life to Christ, you’re already on the wrong road. Turn around and ask Him to forgive your sins and put you on the road to eternal life.

And if you’re a believer seeking direction, pray, read your Bible, and listen for what God has to say. The disciples on the Emmaus road said, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He… opened to us the Scriptures?’ (Luke 24:32 KJV) Ask God to open His Word, give you a heart on fire for Him, and point you in the right direction. He will!

SoulFood: Mt 21:1–16, Ps 118:19–29

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©