Promise for Today - The Most Powerful Witness-part 1of 2

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36 (NIV)

Have you noticed how unmerciful and unforgiving our world is? It seems the highest form of humor is the put-down. Even comedians get paid for their sarcastic and cynical jabs at others. In an increasingly unkind world, your greatest Christian witness can be showing people mercy. For when people see you showing mercy, especially considering how rude and mean society has become, they’ll say, “That’s what I expect a Christian to be like—like Jesus.”

Jesus said it, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (NIV).

There are four things you can do to build a lifestyle of mercy. We’ll look at two today and two tomorrow.

Watch and listen for the needs of others. Whose needs? The needs of people in your neighborhood, at your work, and in your family. Mercy always begins with awareness. If you’re not aware, then you don’t care. 

The Bible says, “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own” (Philippians 2:4 GNT).

You don’t struggle to be merciful because you’re a bad person. It’s because you’re too busy. Busyness is the number one destroyer of mercy in your life. When you’re moving from event to event and task to task, it’s hard to pay attention to the people around you. And when you’re not looking and listening for people’s needs, it’s nearly impossible to be merciful.

Don’t be offended by the sins of others. You can’t say, “Go clean up your life, and then I will accept you.” No - mercy is unconditional! If you’re going to show mercy to people, you can’t be offended by them. You can’t minister to people if you’re looking down on them.

Jesus wasn’t offended by people’s sins. In fact, he hung out with the worst kinds of sinners. He was even accused of “guilt by association” because he spent time with people who were corrupt, unloving, and manipulative.

This doesn’t mean Jesus approved of everything they did. God doesn’t approve of everything you do, but he accepts you completely. Showing mercy doesn’t mean you say everything someone does is okay. Drug addiction and adultery, for example, are not okay.

But you can still show mercy. You can do for others what Christ has done for you.

1 Peter 4:8 ICB reads, “Most importantly, love each other deeply. Love has a way of not looking at others’ sins.”  - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

Why is mercy so hard to find in the world today?

Who has shown you mercy, even when you didn’t deserve it? What were the circumstances?

Have you ever withheld mercy from someone because you didn’t agree with their lifestyle? If so, how might you react to them differently today?

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for Your Grace - it truly is amazing! Please help us to fully grasp the miracle of Your mercy and grace toward us. And teach us how to be merciful and full of grace toward others. Forgive us for all the times we missed it. Let us see with Your eyes of love - to recognize needs in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our jobs, and for those in our church. Provide us the wherewithal to be Your hands and feet to those You have placed within our sphere of influence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What Exactly is Salvation?

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

Because of God’s great mercy, Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV). He showed you how much you matter to him by sending his Son to die on the cross for your sins. That’s the kind of love God has for you.

You may have heard people say, “I’m saved.” You may even say that yourself when you talk about your relationship with Jesus. But what does it mean to be saved? What happens when you accept God’s gift of salvation? Salvation rescues you from your sinful self. Many people don’t think they need to be saved or “rescued” from anything. And I ask them, “Really? You have no pain in your life? You have no resentment, pressures, guilt, or anxiety?” Everyone has problems they can’t solve on their own. Everyone needs to be rescued. Everyone needs Jesus.

In Psalm 50:15 (GW), The Bible says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me”.

Salvation reconnects you to God. When you surrender your life to God, Jesus makes peace between you and him. He tears down all the barriers that once separated you from your Creator. There’s a word for that: reconciliation.

Salvation recovers what you lost. What would you like to get back? Maybe you’ve lost your confidence, your joy, your reputation, your dream, or your innocence. Jesus came to recover what you’ve lost.

If you’re familiar with farming, you probably know how damaging a swarm of locusts can be. They can destroy a field of corn in about two hours. What has eaten away at your life? What has destroyed your plans or relationships? Only God can restore it all. Joel 2:25 says, “I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops” (GNT).

Being reconciled to God also means you will live with him forever. You won’t spend eternity in hell, separated from God; instead, you will have a secure home in heaven! That’s why preparing for the next life is the most important thing you can do in this life. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over
Do you struggle to admit you need God to rescue you? In what ways do you sometimes try to rescue yourself?

What have you lost in life? Take time to thank God for being a God of restoration and ask him to restore “what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops.”

If you are already a Christian, in what ways did your salvation reconnect you to God? 

If you haven’t decided to follow Jesus yet, in what areas of your life do you see a need for connection to God? It’s never too late to seek God’s rescue. If you haven’t yet accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, you can do that today. Are you ready to commit your life to Jesus? If so, then pray this prayer:

Father,

           Your Word declares in Romans 10:9-10 ( ESV) that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that You raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. You have promised that if I believe and make You Lord of my life, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that You are God, my Savior. Today I’m turning every part of my life over to You. I want to follow You and do what You tell me to do.

“Jesus, I am grateful for your love, for your sacrifice on the cross, and for your resurrection that makes it possible for me to join you in heaven. I know I don’t deserve it. And I thank you that it is a gift of grace. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - You're Not Alone

Jacob’s sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and brought him safely through all his troubles.

 Acts 7:9-10 (GNT)

When faced with great adversity and hardship, Joseph remained resilient because he depended on God’s presence, no matter where he was. There’s a phrase that’s used five times in Joseph’s story—and anytime something is said five times in Scripture, God wants you to pay close attention. This phrase is essentially, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Joseph knew that no matter what the setback was, God was with him. God was with Joseph when his brothers threw him in the pit and when they sold him to the traders. God brought him safely through all his troubles. 

Notice that it doesn’t say God spared Joseph from his troubles. It says God brought him safely through.

When you have God’s presence, it doesn’t mean he’s going to keep bad or hard things from happening to you. It means he’s going to bring you through it. If God had spared Joseph from all the terrible things that happened to him, then Joseph would not have made it to Egypt, where he became a powerful leader who saved his people from famine. He would have never had his comeback.

God doesn’t cause your problems, but he can use them for his purposes.

Whatever you’re facing today, God could have taken you around it or kept you out of it altogether. But he’s taking you through it for your good and for his glory. Even when you don’t feel it, God’s presence has never left you. He was with Joseph in the pit, on the path to Egypt, in Potiphar’s palazzo, in prison, and in Pharaoh’s palace. There is no place you can go that he will not be with you too.

There is always something to learn in the setbacks of life. Maybe the only thing you learn in your troubles is how to depend on God’s presence and power—but that means a deeper, stronger faith will be one of your greatest comebacks. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

Who or what can help remind you of God’s presence when you are going through a setback?

What do you think God wants you to do when you don’t feel his presence?

Think of some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned through the setbacks in your life. How does remembering God’s faithfulness through them help you trust in his presence now?

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Prayer:

Father, 

          I'm reminded of the old gospel song "He'll Do It Again" - we KNOW You can, and You will do it again. You will bring us through all of life's issues when we place our faith and trust in You. It's Your Plan. Your Purpose. And all for Your glory. Because of Your faithfulness - knowing we are never alone - we freely offer You our praise and thanksgiving in the midst of it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Better Approach

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.
Ephesians 6:7-8 NLT

(Devotional by Pastor Rick) Have you ever been forced to take a job you didn’t really want? Maybe you couldn’t find your dream job or financial needs made you take the job that was available but not the one you wanted. You had to settle for what you thought was best.

This was one of the many setbacks Joseph in the Bible faced—to a much greater degree than we will ever experience. Genesis 37:36 says, “Meanwhile, in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh—the king of Egypt” (TLB). In a matter of days, Joseph went from being a pampered son in his father's home to being a slave in someone else's home in a foreign country. He was doing work he never expected to do, without having any say in the matter.

You may be in a job right now that you really don't like or don’t want to do, that you wish you didn't have to do. You wish you were doing something else somewhere else. Maybe on your worst days, it even feels like forced labor. It seems like a setback, and you don’t see an end in sight.

If that’s you, then you probably can identify with Joseph and how he felt.

But Joseph made a pretty remarkable decision: Wherever Joseph went and whatever he did, he chose to do the best he could with what he had for God. Even as a slave, away from his home, he served with his whole heart and tried to honor God with good work and good character. Joseph took the work of a slave and gave it meaning. He did this by working for God and not for his human master. He saw God as his boss, and so he gave God his best in his work. And it didn’t go unnoticed: Joseph’s excellent work stood out and led to promotions by his master that eventually landed him in the service of the king [even though he had trials along the way].

Ephesians 6:7-8 says, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do” (NLT).

No one else may notice your efforts, and you may not see your reward until you get to heaven. But your diligent, faithful work in your job will never go unnoticed by the One whose opinion matters most.

Talk It Over

Do you need someone to notice your hard work for it to be worth it to you? Why or why not?

How often do you have to make the decision to work diligently?

In what ways does staying connected to God through Bible study and prayer help you stay focused and diligent at work?

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your provision in our lives. For those of us who work outside our homes, according to Your Word, let us do all things without grumbling or disputing, that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom we will shine as lights in the world, holding fast to Your Word of life.  And let Your favor be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Disconnected Value

Part 3 - Pastor Rick

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

God has amazing plans for you! But if you’re not connected to him, you lose out on everything he wants to do in your life.

Yesterday, we looked at two things people lose when they’re spiritually lost: their direction and protection. Today, we’ll be looking at another thing they lose: their potential. Your potential to do good things in the world is dramatically limited when you’re disconnected from God.

It’s a lot like coins. Put enough of them together, and they have great potential for good. You could feed a family, start a business, or even save a life. But you can’t do any of those good things if the coins are lost.

The story of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10 is a good example of this. It’s about a woman who has 10 valuable coins. But, somehow, one of them gets lost. She doesn’t say, “I’ve got nine coins, so I’m not going to worry about the lost one.” Instead, she turns her house upside down to look for it and celebrates when it’s finally found. Just because her coin was lost didn’t mean it had lost its value. It still had great value! But what it lost was its potential to do any good.

God made you to do great things, far greater than you could possibly imagine. In fact, if God showed you what he wants to do with your life when you completely place it in his hands, it would astound you! The Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Maybe you’ve been disconnected from God for many years, and you think it’s too late for him to use you. It’s not too late! He’s your Creator. He sees you as highly valuable, and he knows your potential. 
If you’ll surrender every part of your life to him today, you’ll start to see all the things he has prepared for you come to life.

Talk It Over

When have you lost something of great value to you? What lengths did you go to in order to find it?

How are people affected when someone wastes their potential?

God has amazing things “prepared for those who love him.” How does that knowledge affect your desire to live completely for him?
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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Jesus and His willing sacrifice so that we could be restored to a right relationship with You. The scariest scenario is to be disconnected from You. We want to fulfill the purpose and plan You ordained for our lives. Help us to walk ever closer so that we see Your light on the path You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Value - Part 2 (Pastor Rick)

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” 

Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

God sees everyone as valuable and worth seeking, finding, and saving. The Bible says, “[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 ESV).

But many people are spiritually lost. This means they’re following their own plan for their lives rather than God’s plan. But what do spiritually lost people actually lose? 

They lose several things, but today we’ll look at just two: their direction and their protection.

You can see this in the story of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-6. It’s about a shepherd who leaves 99 saved sheep to go and search for his one lost sheep. He doesn’t say, “I’ve got 99 saved sheep, so forget the lost one!” No, they all matter to him. And when he finds the lost sheep, “he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5 NIV) to celebrate.

Like sheep, people who are spiritually lost lose their direction. In fact, all humans are this way. You don’t intend to get lost. You just think, “That grass over there looks greener.” And soon you follow your own way and lose your direction.

The Bible says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT).

Another thing spiritually lost people lose is God’s protection. Like sheep who wander away from their shepherd, you too are vulnerable when you don’t have a shepherd to protect you from the wolves of life. That’s why you need to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Otherwise, you are alone and defenseless—and you lose God’s protection.

The Bible also says, “My people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2 NLT).

But when you place yourself under the Good Shepherd’s care, you get direction and protection. This doesn’t mean you will be free from trouble. But it does mean that God will work “all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28 BSB).

Maybe you or someone you know is lacking God’s direction and protection today. Remember: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who sees everyone as extremely valuable and “desires all people to be saved.”

Talk It Over

When did you first realize you mattered to God? What circumstance or person helped you realize this?

What daily habits keep you close to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? What habits make you more likely to wander from him?

Who in your life doesn’t appear to have God’s direction and protection? Make plans to tell them how valuable they are to him.

Have you opened your life to Jesus Christ? You don't need to know what's going to happen tomorrow. You don't need to know what the future holds; you just need to know who holds the future! When you have a relationship with your Creator, you'll have the security of his unwavering love and unbreakable promises.

Prayer:

Dear God, 

               I want my security to be in something that cannot be taken from me. I want my security to be in my relationship with you, as I trust in your promise to never leave me. I want to claim that promise today. As much as I know how, I open my life to you, Jesus Christ. I confess that I have lived life my own way and sinned against you. Please forgive me. Come into my life and change my priorities, my values, my purpose, and my direction. Transform me into the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Value (Pastor Rick)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” 

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

In God’s eyes, there are only two kinds of people—saved people and lost people. Every one of us falls into one of these two categories. And, ultimately, no other human distinction matters.

God loves all people, regardless of gender, race, or culture. In fact, He created them with those characteristics. And He doesn’t distinguish people by their education, looks, wealth, or talent. What matters most to Him is whether people are spiritually saved or lost, whether they’re in His family or not.

The words “saved” and “lost” imply value—they mean that God sees you as being worthy of seeking, saving, and finding. “Saved” and “lost” are expressions of His love.

The Bible says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT. That’s how valuable you are. Jesus Christ came to earth to seek you and to save you.

Only valuable things get lost; invaluable things just get misplaced. In other words, nobody loses a toothpick. You may misplace a toothpick, but you don’t lose it, because it’s not that valuable.

However, if I lost my wedding ring, it would be a real loss because it represents decades of commitment to my wife. Not only that, but Kay gave it to me, and I love her. I could never misplace my wedding ring; I could, however, lose it.

So, when we talk about whether a person is spiritually saved or lost, we’re not talking about their value. Every person—saved or not—is incredibly valuable to God.

But God doesn’t want anyone to be spiritually lost. Why? Because it means they are disconnected from Him and don’t have a relationship with Him.

Over the next couple days, we’re going to look at the question, “What do you actually lose when you’re spiritually lost?” The answers to this question will help you understand how much you matter to God and help you share this encouraging news with others.

Talk It Over

Have you—perhaps unconsciously—thought of people who are lost as having different value from those who are saved? How does it feel to know all people are of equal value to God?

What’s an example of something you have lost? What’s something you have misplaced? What was the value of each of those things to you?

Who in your life needs to hear how valuable they are to God? How can you take time to encourage them by telling them that today?

There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. The Bible says in John 3:18, “Those who believe in the Son are not judged” (GNT).

If you’re ready to accept that promise, stop fearing God’s judgment, and commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus,

You have promised that if I believe in You, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and I will learn the purpose of my life. Instead of judging me, You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sins, and I believe that You are the Son of God - my Savior. I believe You died on the Cross as the perfect sacrifice so I could be forgiven. I believe You rose again on the third day, victorious over death, hell, and the grave. I receive You into my life as my Lord. Thank You that I don’t have to earn salvation, deserve it, or work for it. It is Your gift of grace.

“Today I’m turning over every part of my life to You. I want to use the rest of my life to serve You instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to You, and I ask You to save me and accept me into Your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”