Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Matthew 5:45
…So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? It seems so backwards and unfair, but Jesus reminds us that our Father in Heaven is completely sovereign. He blesses both the good and the evil, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Those who love God may suffer in this life, but they will have everlasting joy in the next. Those who hate God may prosper in this life, but their wealth and power will mean nothing when they are forever separated from the Father. This life is only a fraction of your eternal story, so don’t fret about who wins or loses here; what matters is what we do to further the Kingdom that is to come.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

When God created this earth, it was exactly as He wanted it to be. The green grass, the blue sky, love, laughter and warmth… it was all good. But even though the world has been ravaged by sin, corrupted by thorns, and turned upside-down by a worldwide flood, that doesn’t mean all good is gone. The world is full of bad things, yes, and it’s true that this earth isn’t your eternal home. But all of this was made by a God who is wonderfully good, and He didn’t put you here for no reason. Follow Him and He will give you joy and fulfilment, both in this life and in the one to come.

Monday, February 27, 2023

Monday, February 27, 2023
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Everything good comes from God, and there is no true “good” apart from Him. He is the Father of love, joy, and peace, and He desires only good things for His kids. In life you will face temptation, hardships, and pain, but God isn’t the root of your problem: sin and death is. We live in a fallen world, and bad things will happen; not because God wants tragedy, but because He can turn your worst trials into your greatest strengths. He is a good and perfect God, and one day, He will make everything good and perfect again. Until that day, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil, for He is with you.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Friday, February 24, 2023
John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Before He was crucified, Jesus commanded His followers to love one another just as He had. What a tremendous task! Christ loved like no man ever did, laying down His life for the very people that nailed Him to the cross. Only one man ever had that kind of love; but the Word says that if you remain in Him, He will remain in you, and your life will look more like Christ all the time. Today, I pray that the Lord would help you to see everyone as a precious son or daughter of the Living God, and that He would inspire you to love them just as Christ loved you.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Thursday, February 23, 2023
Exodus 23:4
If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.

Christ commands us to be peacemakers for all people, regardless of their relationship with us. If you and I were only kind to those who behaved perfectly, who would we be to ask God for mercy? Your sins are innumerable, and yet when bad things happen, the Father is still there to lend a helping hand. In the same way, when you see an opportunity to help a neighbor in need, don’t leave them hanging. Be a living demonstration of Christ’s love, even when it’s difficult, and God will use you to move hearts and touch lives.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Proverbs 3:29
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

Trust is a precious, and sometimes very fragile. When someone trusts you, they are putting their faith in your word and in your character. Abusing that trust not only burns the bridge between you and that person, but it makes it harder for others to trust you in the future. God wants us to be people of integrity that can be relied on, both with small things and with big things. If you can be entrusted with a little, you can be entrusted with a lot. Be honorable and responsible with what trust you’ve been given and watch as that trust grows.