THE WORLD’S A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE…

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”  (Philippians 2:13 NIV)

Great historical events might never have “happened” if people’s spirits were not in touch with the Spirit’s movement in their lives:

The world’s a better place because Michelangelo didn’t say, “I don’t do ceilings.”

The world’s a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther didn’t say, “I don’t do doors.”

The world’s a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn’t say, “I don’t do fields.”

The world’s a better place because Moses didn’t say, “I don’t do Pharaohs.”

The world’s a better place because Noah didn’t say, “I don’t do arks and animals.”

The world’s a better place because Ruth didn’t say, “I don’t do mothers-in-law.”

The world’s a better place because Mary didn’t say, “I don’t do virgin births.”

The world’s a better place because Mary Magdalene didn’t say, “I don’t do feet.”

The world’s a better place because Jesus didn’t say, “I don’t do crosses.”

Get in touch with the greatness of your spiritual heritage. Look to the future, and feel God’s Spirit stirring your own. Then watch in wonder as God transforms your life… and makes the world a better place.

-- Adapted from Leonard Sweet in “A Cup of Coffee at the Soulcafe”

#6395

JUSTICE, MERCY AND HUMILITY

In the Book of Micah, God called all the mountains and hills to witness as He told the people of Israel what is expected of them. “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8)

Of all the demands upon the Christian, justice and mercy – not to mention humility – are perhaps the most often misunderstood.

Justice is a hard standard. Justice demands absolute conformity with God’s holy character -- righteousness in our hearts, righteousness in our conversations, righteousness in our conduct, righteousness in our jobs and lives, righteousness in our institutions. Because God is a holy God, He cannot be in fellowship with unjust people.

At the same time, God is a merciful God. He woos His people and calls them back to Himself. But His justice -- consistency with His own decrees -- means that sin has to be paid for with death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)…

Why didn’t God simply forgive and forget and let us begin again? Because His standard of justice, which demanded righteousness or death, could not be put aside.

So God shook heaven and earth, merging justice and mercy at the Cross by fulfilling the demands of justice through the one perfect sacrifice, His only Son, Jesus Christ.

When the Scriptures tell us to do justice and to love mercy, they require of us nothing less than the glorious, full-bodied justice and mercy God Himself showed. 

– Adapted from Charles Colson (1931-2012) in an article entitled “Doing Justice, Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly” in Discipleship Journal, No. 63 

#6394

WHAT A PLEASURE!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence.”  (1 John 3:18-19 NIV)

How are you serving the Lord in your home? In your office? At school? At church? In the community? Perhaps more important, what’s your attitude when you serve Him?

John 13:1-30 gives at least four characteristics of an attitude of service if you’re following the example of the Lord:

·      We’re to serve willingly -- when it’s not convenient or even when our service isn’t appreciated.

·      We’re to serve humbly. What job are you too proud to do?

·      We’re to serve obediently. What is your motivation for service?

·      And we’re to serve sincerely.

Psalm 103:20-21 says, “Praise the Lord, you His angels… who obey His word… you His servants who do His will.” What a pleasure to do God’s pleasure! The greatest joy you’ll experience on earth, other than worshiping our Lord, is the joy of working for Him -- willingly, humbly, obediently, and sincerely. 

-- Adapted from Anne Graham Lotz in “Fixing My Eyes on Jesus” 

#6393

THE SPIRIT’S PROMPTINGS

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper… He lives with you and will be in you.”   (John 14:16–17)

Trying to put language around the promptings of the Holy Spirit is no simple task. His movements are mysterious -- felt more than seen, sensed more than explained. They are intangible, yet unmistakably real. And they have been part of the Christian life from the moment Jesus ascended and sent His Spirit to dwell within the believers. That day changed everything.

Jesus had promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)  Not a symbolic power. Not a motivational boost. But the very power of God taking up residence in human hearts.

It should tell us something about the weight of our calling that Christ didn’t leave us to navigate it alone. He knew the mission was bigger than our natural abilities. So He sent a permanent, supernatural Helper -- One who guides, convicts, strengthens, and speaks in ways that shape our steps.

But what is this power for? Acts 1:8 gives the answer plainly: We are empowered to be witnesses -- living, breathing reflections of Christ in every corner of the world. The Spirit’s promptings are not random nudges; they are divine invitations to join God in His work. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6392

THE GIFT OF GRACE

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8–9)

After centuries of handling and mishandling, most religious words have become so shopworn nobody's much interested anymore. Not so with ‘grace’, for some reason. Mysteriously, even derivatives like gracious and graceful still have some of the bloom left.

Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There's no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth.

A good sleep is grace and so are good dreams. Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace. Have you ever tried to love somebody?...

The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is your world. Beautiful and terrible things happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you.

There is only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. 

-- Excerpted from “Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith” by Frederick Buechner

#6391

TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” (Romans 12:2 Phillips)

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. 

-- Anne Lamott  

#6390

THIS IS THE DAY

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”  (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

Each day that we have is a gracious and generous gift from God. Each day provides us with many opportunities that will never come again. If you wait to select the perfect opportunity, you may miss the one opportunity that will benefit you most. If you wait to join the one perfect cause in life, you may never contribute anything. If you wait till you find the perfect job, you will be unemployed. If you delay participation in the spiritual life until things are just right, or until you think you are worthy, then you will miss out on life and faith and God. If you spend your life trapped in the utopian complex, looking for that perfect moment to do what you know you ought to do, and to be what you ought to be, you may well discover too late that life has passed you by…

Isn’t this precisely what the psalmist was talking about many years ago? He put it like this: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”  In other words, don’t wait around for another day! This is the only day we are sure of.

Accept with gratitude this day! Embrace the joys of this day! Seize the opportunities of this day! Commit your life to God this day!

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I am not singing the old hedonist song, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.” That’s not what this is about. No! Rather, it’s about seeing life in this world as a generous gift from God our Creator. It’s about recognizing each day we have as a gracious gift from God our Father and celebrating that, and seizing the precious opportunities it offers. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT)  

-- Adapted from James W. Moore and Bob J. Moore in “Lord, Give Me Patience!... And Give It to Me Right Now!”

#6389

THE HABIT OF WORSHIP

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

My wife and I had a dinner conversation with a couple who said that they left their church as a result of a pastoral change, had tried another church with no success, and now were not worshipping anywhere. They acknowledged it was far too easy to get out of the habit.

Worship is not just an event, it’s a habit -- a rhythm of grace that shapes the soul. Let me encourage you to be in the habit of worshipping every Sunday, not just when you feel like it, not just when you're in town, not just when the kids have Sunday school. The habit of worship is not about routine -- it’s about relationship. Each time we come together, we rehearse eternity: the family of God united in praise. Make it your habit to worship, and when you do you'll find that God has made it His habit to show up as well.

Lord, teach me to make worship my habit, not my option. Let my heart be drawn to Your presence and my life shaped by Your praise. May I never grow weary of gathering with Your people, for in worship I find You again. Amen.

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

#6388

GETTING TO KNOW GOD – Part 2 of 2

“Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”  (John 17:3 NIV)

As you get to know God better, you will change. A vibrant and intimate relationship with God in Christ will empower you to heal from the hurts from your past, forgive what seems unforgivable, and change what seems unchangeable about yourself. Walking with God will break the power of materialism in your life and lead you to a radically generous life. Instead of living for yourself and for the moment, you’ll live for Christ and for eternity. Your heart will begin to break for the reasons and the causes that break God’s heart. You’ll serve Him faithfully as part of His bride, the church. Instead of living in torment from worry and fear, you’ll learn to experience peace, grace, and trust. As you get to know God you’ll live boldly for Him, excitedly sharing your faith with others, less and less concerned about what others think. Knowing Him will make you ache to tell others about Him.

Get to know God. When you do, you will never be the same. 

-- Craig Groeschel in “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist” 

#6387

GETTING TO KNOW GOD – Part 1 of 2

It’s time to be honest with yourself and with God: Do you know Him? If so, how well?

If you’ve acknowledged honestly that you don’t know God, I can relate. For too long, I believed in God but didn’t know Him. Now I do. And knowing Him consumes me. Knowing Him makes every moment count.

Has God transformed you? Are you different because of Him? If not, perhaps you’re a Christian Atheist. God loves you and earnestly wants to reveal Himself to you. Sadly, our sin separates us from a holy God. In His mercy and grace, God sent His Son, Jesus, to become the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, became sin for us on the cross. He is the “Lamb of God” who died in our place. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “Everyone” includes you and me.

If you don’t know Him, you can. If you used to be close, you can be close again. Getting to know God is not difficult, and it isn’t about a bunch of rules. Yes, God wants your obedience, but He wants your heart even more. He says over and over again that if you seek Him, you will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-8; Acts 17:27). You can find Him by reading your Bible; He’s been there all along. And when you begin to seek Him, you’ll find that He’s already running toward you, His beloved child. Get to know Him and allow His presence to impact every area of your life, every day. 

-- Craig Groeschel in “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist”

THE NEED FOR BOTH GRACE AND TRUTH – Part 2 of 2

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14 NIV)

In Christ, truth is never without grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, the love that reaches us in our brokenness and draws us back to Him. Grace does not excuse sin but offers forgiveness and restoration. Through grace, we are reminded that we cannot earn our salvation; it is the gift of God through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace invites us into a relationship with God, despite our imperfections.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody both grace and truth in our daily lives. This balance can be challenging. Too much emphasis on truth without grace can lead to harsh judgment, while grace without truth can result in complacency or capitulation. But Jesus shows us the perfect way -- loving sinners while confronting sin, extending compassion without watering down the call to holiness.

When we live in grace and truth, we become reflections of Christ to the world. Our words and actions can bring healing, reconciliation, and hope to those around us. We can share the truth of the Gospel with boldness and humility, while also extending the grace that reminds others of God's endless love.

In Christ, grace and truth are not opposites but companions. When embraced together, they lead us to a deeper understanding of God and a more authentic witness to the world. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™ 

#6385

THE NEED FOR BOTH GRACE AND TRUTH – Part 1 of 2

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14 NIV)

The beauty of John 1:14 lies in its profound declaration that Jesus Christ, the Word, became flesh and lived among us. In this simple yet powerful verse, we see the fullness of God's character revealed in His Son -- grace and truth, perfectly intertwined. As believers, this balance invites us into a life that both reflects and relies upon these divine attributes.

Truth is the foundation upon which all else is built. In Jesus, we encounter the truth about God’s holiness, the reality of sin, and the path to reconciliation. Truth is not always easy to hear, but it is essential for spiritual growth and freedom. Jesus Himself said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NKJV). His life and teachings call us to walk in the light, to confront sin, and to align ourselves with the righteousness of God. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™ 

#6384

THE APOSTLE OF LOVE

The Gospel-writer John has often been nicknamed “the apostle of love.” Indeed, he wrote more than any other New Testament author about the importance of love – laying particular stress on the Christian’s love for Christ, Christ’s love for His church, and the love for one another that is supposed to be the hallmark of true believers. The theme of love flows through his writings.

But love was a quality that he learned from Christ, not something that came naturally to him. In his younger years, he was as much a Son of Thunder as James. If you imagine that John was the way he was often portrayed in medieval art -- a meek, mild, pale-skinned, effeminate person, lying around at Jesus’ shoulder looking up at Him with a dove-eyed stare -- forget that caricature. He was rugged and hard-edged, just like the rest of the fishermen-disciples. And again, he was every bit as intolerant, ambitious, zealous, and explosive as his elder brother. In fact, the one and only time the synoptic Gospel writers recorded John speaking for himself, he displayed his trademark aggressive, self-assertive, impertinent intolerance. (See Mark 9:38.)…

So it is clear from the Gospel accounts that John was capable of behaving in the most sectarian, narrow-minded, unbending, reckless, and impetuous fashion. He was brash. He was aggressive. He was passionate, zealous, personally ambitious – just like his brother James. They were cut from the same cloth.

But John aged well. Under the control of the Holy Spirit, all his liabilities were exchanged for assets. Compare the young disciple with the aged patriarch, and you’ll see that as he matured, his areas of weakness all developed into his greatest strengths. He’s an amazing example of what should happen to us as we grow in Christ -- allowing the Lord’s strengths to be made perfect in our weakness. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9.) 

-- John MacArthur (1939-2025) in “Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do with You”

#6383

CHRIST'S UNIQUE CLAIMS

Some of the most obvious considerations, when thinking about the supremacy of Christ, are the claims He made about Himself.  Other teachers said they were telling the truth.  Christ said, "I ... am the truth" (John 14:6).  Other teachers asked people to follow their teachings.  Christ asked people to follow Him.  More than twenty times in the Gospels Jesus spoke about the need to follow Him.  The other great leaders taught people to worship God… Jesus accepted the worship of Thomas (John 20:28).  Jesus made statements that clearly implied that He was God, and some of His hearers were so scandalized by these remarks that twice they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:54-59; 10:30, 31).

Seven "I am" statements appear in John's Gospel, showing that Christ claimed to be the source of eternal life.  He said, "I am the bread of life" (6:35); "I am the light of the world" (8:12); "I am the gate" (10:7, 9); "I am the good shepherd" (10:11); "I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25); "I am the way and the truth and the life" (14:6); "I am the true vine" (15:1).  Leon Morris reminds us that "in each case the Greek form of 'I am' is emphatic."  Each saying includes the personal pronoun "I."  "There is no need to include the personal pronoun unless emphasis is required."  Morris concludes that to Jewish ears, the words I am "aroused associations of the divine."  These and other statements of Christ make us agree with J. T. Seamands' statement that the uniqueness of Christ "is not something we concede to Christ, but something He confronts us with." 

-- Ajith Fernando in “The Christian's Attitude Toward World Religions” 

#6382

GETTING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL

“Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”  (Mark 4:39)

A famous 17^th century painting hung in a museum.  For years the museum authorities had wanted to have the old master cleaned, but they deliberated a long time since the painting was so valuable.  When the specialists did proceed they noticed to their great consternation that specks of paint came off in the process.  They proceeded with greater care, but could not keep the paint from disintegrating.  As they finished the job they discovered another painting beneath.  A later artist had tried to improve the original masterpiece.  Now they saw the truth.  Better shatter a dream than conceal the truth.

I am about to shatter a dream … a dream which has grown up through the centuries … a dream portrait of Jesus that many hands have touched.  The original portrait is in the gospels, but many have tried to improve the original and thereby have spoiled it.  By trying to make Jesus more attractive, they have made Him unattractive.  By trying to make Him more appealing, they have lost His divine appeal.  It may hurt to shatter a dream.  But, better shatter a dream than conceal the truth …

Clean the canvas.  Get back to the original.  Not this religious weakling of our imagination.  Not this affected emotionalist of our pretty pictures.  But the Christ commanding in His manner, challenging in His message, conquering in His manhood, compelling in His mission -- the revolutionary Christ!  It may hurt to shatter the dream, but shatter it we must to see the true Master.  Better shatter a dream than conceal the truth. 

-- H.S. Vigeveno in “Jesus the Revolutionary”

#6381