-One Hundred And Sixteen- Labels

Labels

Today’s Reading: Luke 11:27-37

Focal Verse: Luke 11:37b  

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

If you go into the store to buy beans, you will see all different kings of labels.  Open up the cans, and what do you find inside them all? Beans!  Regardless, they have different labels because most people pick their favorite label to buy.
People have all kinds of labels and, many times, they separate us: Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Pentacostal, Muslim, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, rich, middle class, poor, pretty, plain, ugly, fat, thin, tall, short…and it goes on.  If you take off the label and look inside, they all are the same thing – “our neighbor”.
God doesn’t look at labels and we aren’t supposed to either.  We are to show mercy to all of our neighbors.  We can’t pick and choose who to show mercy to.  Take the labels off.  Be merciful as your Father has been merciful.

Really, there is only going to be one “label” that matters in the end – whether or not someone was a believer.  Be a good neighbor to all and spread the gospel where you have opportunity.

-One Hundred And Fifteen- Grace That Gives More Than We Ask For

Grace that Gives More than We Ask For

Today’s Reading: Luke 18:35-43

Focal Verse: Luke 18:42

Jesus said, “Go ahead—see again! 

 Your faith has saved and healed you!” (MSG)

When he started out his day, he just wanted some food.  He sat by the road, unable to see, but able to hear and beg from those who passed by.
But this day, things were different.  He could hear a crowd and, asking, found out that Jesus was passing by.  He got excited.  Everyone knew Jesus could heal and he began to cry out.
They told him to be quiet, but he knew this might be his only chance.  And then the remarkable happened.  Jesus noticed him!  Jesus had him brought forward.
Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do.  He asked Him for his sight.  I am sure he must have been thinking that if he only had his sight, he wouldn’t need to beg anymore.  And he waited for the answer.
Jesus gave him what he asked for – his sight, and then He gave him something much more precious – salvation.  The blind man started out his day begging for food to sustain his life.  He ended it by following the One who gave him eternal life.

Read Ephesians 3:20.  Ask God to answer your prayers, not necessarily as you would ask them, but as He, in His wisdom and goodness, knows best.

-One Hundred And Fourteen- Unashamed Of Grace

Unashamed of Grace

Today’s Reading: John 9:1-25

Focal Verse: John 9:25

He answered them and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know.  One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

You don’t need to be a theological scholar to tell others what Christ has done for you.  You don’t have to be defensive about Him or pretend to know everything.  You simply have to tell the truth.
God can spread the gospel in any manner He chooses, but He chose to do it through us (Matthew 28:19-20).  Are you spreading it, or are you making excuses?
Our hearts should be overflowing with thanksgiving for God’s grace to us.  We should be thankful for every opportunity to share it with others.  He wasn’t ashamed to die for us on the cross.  We shouldn’t be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16).

Spend time in thanksgiving that God was not ashamed to be called your God (Hebrews 11:16).  Read Romans 10:14-15 and ask God to show you what your part is.

-One Hundred And Thirteen- Grace For The Prodigal

Grace for the Prodigal

Today’s Reading: Luke 15:11-32

Focal Verse: Luke 15:20

“And he arose and came to his father.  But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

If you went out on the streets and asked people if they believed in God, the majority would say “yes”.  Most people understand that something greater than themselves made this world.  They just don’t want to admit their need for God.  They think they can take care of and run their life on their own.
God made us wonderfully and gave us minds and bodies capable of great things.  Each of us will come upon a time, though, when we realize that isn’t enough.  The difference is what decision we make in that moment.  When we come to the end of ourselves, when we are wallowing in the muck of this world and we realize our hearts are like this muck, we are faced with a decision.  Will we still insist on running our own lives (Mark 10:17-22), or will we confess our sin and run to the Savior?
I love the part where the son begins to come home.  The father doesn’t sit there and wait!  While his son is still far off, the father goes to him…just like God does with us.
Amidst this beautiful story of grace is an ugly fact.  The older brother, who was faithful to the father, resents the attention the father gives to the prodigal son.  Sometimes believers act the same.  Instead of rejoicing with the Lord over a repentant sinner, we act like we resent that they broke into “the club” (Matthew 20:1-16).  We think things like, “They ought to be sorry after the life they have led,” or, “I’ve been faithful all of my life.  He doesn’t deserve that position. He lived an awful life before now.”  Believers sometimes forget that they needed, and still need, the Savior’s forgiveness as much as anyone.
Rejoice with your Savior over the prodigal son. Cook the feast. Help to clothe him by teaching him what God has already taught you.  Show that you are a child of God.

Are you following the example of your Father in welcoming the “prodigals” of this world, or are you more like the other son?

With God’s help, this very day begin to use what God has taught you in your life to encourage others.

-One Hundred And Twelve- More Time, Sir?

More Time, Sir?

Today’s Reading: Luke 13:6-9

Focal Verse: Luke 13:8

But he answered and said to him, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.”

Jesus intercedes for the lost.  He even intercedes for the lost who are in the church.
No matter that they have heard the gospel many times already.  No matter that they have seen miracles and are still unbelieving.  We may have given up on them, but Jesus hasn’t.
Yes, there is a time when judgment comes on unbelievers.  Until that time, Jesus is interceding for a little more time, and God, in His grace, is giving it.

Only God knows the time when a person’s chances are up.

As believers, we should pray for the lost, for a little more time.

-One Hundred And Eleven- Grace To The Unbelieving World

Grace to the Unbelieving World

Today’s Reading: Luke 9:52-56

Focal Verse: Luke 9:56a

“For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”

If you walk as a true disciple of Christ, you will suffer persecution (1 John 2:6).  If you say that Jesus is the only way (John 14:6) to heaven, you will be accused of being narrow-minded and intolerant.
As you hear Christians slandered and reviled in the media and in your daily life, remember that Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master.” (John 15:20)  As Christ came through the Samaritan village on His way to worship in Jerusalem, the Samaritans were offended that Jesus insisted that Jerusalem, where His Father had commanded, was the proper place to worship.  They had their own self-made temple with their own humanly altered religion.  They rejected Him.
As you stand for Christ, you also will be rejected by some.  Respond as Jesus did.  Not with angry, hurtful and destructive words, but with His loving grace.  Look at them as lost and dying people who need the salvation of Christ…just as you did.

It is easier to listen to media stories and get mad and debate, rather than get on your knees in prayer for these people.  Commit to pray for those that the Lord shows you need Him.

-One Hundred And Ten- Never-ending Forgiveness

Never-ending Forgiveness

Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

Focal Verse: Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

One of the saddest things to see is strife and divisiveness in the church.  One member hurts another member.  Neither one is willing to forgive and it becomes an ugly feud that usually draws others into it.  It is like a cancer spreading…and it is ungodly.
Jesus told us we are to forgive seventy times seven, or basically unlimited, times.  Before you roll your eyes at how difficult that is, let’s look at Christ.  He wronged no one.  He has never wronged you, yet how many times have you had to ask forgiveness?  Seventy times seven?  He has forgiven you every time.
So when you are finding it hard to forgive someone, go to Jesus for help.  Ask Him to remind you of all the times He has given you grace.  Ask Him to help you extend that grace to the one you need to forgive, and experience the peace of a forgiving, forgiven heart.

Forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion.  Spend some time praying.  Thank Jesus for the times He has forgiven you.  If there is someone you haven’t forgiven, ask His forgiveness and His help.

-One Hundred And Nine- Giver Of Faith

Giver of Faith

Today’s Reading: Mark 9:14-27

Focal Verse: Mark 9:24

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Faith is a powerful thing.  Salvation comes by faith.  Jesus spoke of faith being a factor in some of His healings.  It is a desirable trait in the lives of believers.  So how do we get more?
First, we have to understand that the faith necessary for our own salvation didn’t come from ourselves.  It was a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).
The Bible teaches us to ask for God to increase our faith.  In Luke 17:5 “the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’”  Circumstances many times come into our lives that show the limitations of the faith we have.  That’s what happened in this story.  The father wanted to have the kind of faith necessary for his child to be healed, but he knew it was lacking.  He threw himself on the mercy of Jesus and cried out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”  Jesus heard his cry and had mercy.

Do you need more faith? 

Jesus will hear your earnest cry for increased faith.

-One Hundred And Eight- Grace That Allows My Faith To Sink

Grace that Allows My Faith to Sink

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

Focal Verse: Matthew 14:30

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid: and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Sometimes I feel really dense.  God will do something miraculous in my life or the life of someone I love.  I will be so full of faith and confidence in the Lord. Then a new “storm” hits.  It’s as if I have forgotten who God is and how mighty His power is.  I try to walk confidently, but as I stumble, I cry out to Jesus.
God graciously shows me the areas where my faith is weak.  He could just go on letting me think my faith is full-grown, but He wants me to know Him.  He wants me to understand His love and truly trust Him.
So sometimes, He allows my faith to sink…and then He pulls me up.

Sometimes our guilt and sense of foolishness when we stumble makes us turn away from God.  Cry out to Him.  He will pull you up.

-One Hundred And Seven- Grace Finishes The Job!

Grace Finishes the Job!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14:10-21

Focal Verse: Matthew 14:16a

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away.”

Lord, I know You must have wanted to spend some time by Yourself.  You loved John and it must have saddened You to see Your servant suffer.
You could have taken some time off.  Nobody would have blamed You.  But You looked out at all those people…compassionately You set out to complete the work Your Father had given You to do.
You had the prime opportunity to send them away and give Yourself a break.  They needed food and it was reasonable to expect them to go get some.
But…all those people.  You couldn’t send them away.  They needed You.  They were the reason You were there.  So You provided.
Lord, thank You for finishing the job.  Thank You for giving up Your rights so that You could shower Your love on undeserving people.
You are Grace, and You finished the job.

God has given us each a job to do.  Sometimes that involves giving up our “rights”.  Are you finishing the job God has given you to do?

-One Hundred And Six- Grace That Prays

Grace that Prays

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:35-38

Focal Verse: Matthew 9:38

“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

It is not God’s desire that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9).  He has told us to “Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15b).
As Jesus looked out over the multitudes that came to Him for healing and hope, He had compassion.  He gave us the command to pray that God would send more workers to spread the gospel.
Someone told you about Jesus.  Because they did, you received His grace.  Spread His grace by telling others.  Spread His grace by faithfully praying for more workers.

Ask Jesus to open your eyes to the multitudes that need Him.

-One Hundred And Five- Grace Where There Was None

Grace Where There Was None

Today’s Reading: John 5:1-8

Focal Verse: John 5:7

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

It horrifies me when I read this.  I think about this poor man who didn’t have anyone to help him get in the pool.  I think, “Couldn’t someone have helped him?”
In our world of busyness and self-centeredness, there are people, just like this man, who have no one to help them.  There are sick people, elderly people, shut-ins, disabled people, homeless people, mentally ill people, etc., who have no one to help them.  No one to take a moment to fix a meal, clean a house, shop for groceries, take them to the doctor, just sit and listen…tell them about Jesus.
Jesus looked upon a man who had received no grace from this world and reached out to him in grace.  As His disciples, shouldn’t we do the same?

1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.”  Seek an opportunity to give grace to someone who needs it.

-One Hundred And Four- Grace That Is Personal

Grace that is Personal

Today’s Reading: Mark 5:25-34

Focal Verse: Mark 5:30b 

“Who touched My clothes?”

There are some people who just naturally stand out in a crowd.  They may be beautiful, or extra-tall or even very strange, but you just can’t help but notice them.  And then, there are the rest of us: average looks, average size – just average.
Growing up, I felt “lost in the crowd” in my family.  My parents and two older sisters were very intelligent and seemed, to me, to succeed at everything they did.  I developed a love for singing because it was something that would distinguish me from my sisters.
Many today in the church are trying to distinguish themselves before Christ.  They feel like other believers have it all together, know more, and the list goes on.  The fact is, each of us stands out in the crowd with Jesus.  The woman in need of healing amidst the multitudes pressing against Jesus was just an ordinary person.  But something extraordinary happened when she reached for Jesus and touched His robe.  He reached out.  She wasn’t ordinary to Jesus.  She was an object of His love and grace

No matter how you feel at work, church, school or home, you are special to Jesus.  Let Him know how special He is to you.