Max Lucado Daily: GOD HAS A GOOD PLAN - January 2, 2023
Satan’s scheme to kill the Son of God was defeated on the cross he designed for Christ. Had Satan known that the death of the Messiah would mean death for him and life for us, he never would have crucified the King. He never saw it coming.
And so that we would never forget, Jesus gave us our own celebration. “He took the bread, he gave thanks and broke it,…saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you;’…He also took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you'”(Luke 22:19-20).
A broken body? Spilled blood? Can good come from this? Communion says yes. You have a good God, who has a good plan, and that plan is revealed in his good book. Today’s confusion and crisis will be tomorrow’s conquest.
Proverbs 22
The Cure Comes Through Discipline
A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!
3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
6 Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.
8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
and bullying anger sputters into nothing.
9 Generous hands are blessed hands
because they give bread to the poor.
10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
you need a break from bickering and griping!
11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
good leaders also delight in their friendship.
12 God guards knowledge with a passion,
but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.
13 The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”
14 The mouth of a prostitute is a bottomless pit;
you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.
15 Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.
16 Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
you’ll end up the poorer for it.
The Thirty Precepts of the Sages
Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines
17-21 Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
I’m laying it all out right now just for you.
I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—
tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work,
and will keep you accountable
to those who sent you.
1
22-23 Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,
and don’t use your position to crush the weak,
Because God will come to their defense;
the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.
2
24-25 Don’t hang out with angry people;
don’t keep company with hotheads.
Bad temper is contagious—
don’t get infected.
3
26-27 Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,
pawning your house against a lucky chance.
The time will come when you have to pay up;
you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.
4
28 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines
staked out long ago by your ancestors.
5
29 Observe people who are good at their work—
skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
they don’t take a backseat to anyone.
Restrain Yourself
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Monday, January 02, 2023
Today's Scripture
Micah 5:2–4
But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,
the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.
Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes
until the birth pangs are over and the child is born,
And the scattered brothers come back
home to the family of Israel.
He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength,
centered in the majesty of God-Revealed.
And the people will have a good and safe home,
for the whole world will hold him in respect—
Peacemaker of the world!
Insight
Micah (which means “who is like the Lord?”) is among the twelve Old Testament books classified as Minor Prophets. The prophet Micah (eighth-century bc) was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah. The book has three major sections (chs. 1–2; 3–5; 6–7) that all begin with the Hebrew word shama‘—“to hear” (1:2) or “listen” (3:1; 6:1). God called His people, particularly the leaders (chs. 2–3), to give heed to His words. Micah’s writing includes one of most beloved passages in the Bible: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). The prophet’s words are found in the New Testament in two places: Micah 5:2 is seen in Matthew 2:6 (the prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace), and Jesus quotes Micah 7:6 in Matthew 10:35–36. By: Arthur Jackson
A Small Start
Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small . . . , out of you will come . . . [a] ruler over Israel. Micah 5:2
The Brooklyn Bridge was considered “the eighth wonder of the world” upon its completion in 1883. But a single, slender wire strung from one bridge tower to the other was essential for the structure to come to fruition. Additional wires were added to the first until a massive cable, along with three others, was woven together. When finished, each cable—composed of more than five thousand galvanized wires—helped support the longest suspension bridge in its day. What started as something small turned into a huge part of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Jesus’ life began in a small way—a baby born and placed in a feeding trough in a tiny town (Luke 2:7). The prophet Micah prophesied His humble birth, writing, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2; see also Matthew 2:6). A small start, but this ruler and shepherd would see His fame and mission “reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).
Jesus was born in a small place in humility, and His life on earth ended as “he humbled himself” and died a criminal's death on a “cross” (Philippians 2:8 nlt). But by His immense sacrifice He bridged the gap between us and God—providing salvation for all who believe. This season, may you receive God’s great gift in Jesus by faith. And if you do believe, may you humbly praise Him anew for all He’s done for you. By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
What small or big thing is God doing in your heart? How will you humbly respond to Him?
Jesus, thank You for humbly coming to save me by Your great sacrifice.
Learn more about the life of Christ.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Monday, January 02, 2023
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “…do not worry about your life…nor about the body…” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
To live a life alone with God does not mean that we live it apart from everyone else. The connection between godly men and women and those associated with them is continually revealed in the Bible, e.g., 1 Timothy 4:10. Not Knowing Whither, 867 L
Bible in a Year: Genesis 4–6; Matthew 2
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Monday, January 02, 2023
HOW NEW IS YOUR NEW YEAR? - #9386
There's a reason so many of us grandparents are overcoming our technophobia and venturing into cyberspace. We get to see pictures of our grandkids as soon as they're taken!
There's that hilarious photo that our son sent me. It was a picture of our then one-year-old grandson sitting on the kitchen floor with a fork in his hand. Oh, yeah, with a lemon-meringue pie splatted on the floor next to him. He's looking at the camera with an expression somewhere between "uh-oh" and "what's the problem?"
Then came the story with the picture. Dad and big sis were outside, and Mom had to leave the room briefly. As she left, she said to our seven-year-old grandson, "You're in charge." Which apparently was interpreted as, "Keep playing your video game." That's when Terminator Toddler made his move to the pie on the counter above him. The law of gravity? Well, of course, that provided a very valuable assist.
That's when Daddy - the event photographer - walked into the room. As he surveyed the mess on the floor, big brother made a proud announcement, "Guess what, Daddy? I'm in charge!" All Daddy could think was, "You sure you want to own this mess, son?" Strange as it may seem, I'm actually thinking about that little drama as a personal parable early in this new year.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How New is Your New Year?"
I wonder how many times that would be a picture of imaginary conversations between God and me as He surveys that mess right in front of me? And there I am saying, "Guess what, Father? I'm in charge!" And He must be thinking as He looks at the damage, "Yeah, I could tell you're in charge, Ron."
So how new is any new year really going to be? Especially in the parts of our lives that are messy, confused, tense, and troubled? It may all depend on who's in charge. I've found that the messes are usually in areas where I've hijacked the wheel from God and decided to take charge myself, often without even realizing it. Then I hear the echoes of a haunting question from God. It's in our word for today from the Word of God in Galatians 3:3 - "After beginning with the Spirit" (that's the Holy Spirit) "are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
When I'm facing something that I can't fix or change or control, I desperately turn to Him and I say, "Jesus, take the wheel!" But somewhere along the way, Mr. Control takes it back. And that's where the messes come from. A new year, a fresh start, usually makes us reflect a little on things that aren't as they should be; in our marriage, our family, our finances, maybe our relationships. Maybe it's our lifestyle, our love life, our walk with God.
If you see a mess in a part of your life that you're looking at right now, consider whether you have moved Jesus to the margins and said, "I'm in charge" effectively making you "Lord" of that part of your life instead of Him. That's when He asks that disturbing question, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).
The realization that I was never meant to drive my life; that's the first step to beginning a relationship with God; the very relationship you were made for. And when you realize that the mess of your life, the guilt of your life, the shame of your life, the hurt we've inflicted is because we've taken our life and done it our way instead of His. That's called SIN in the bible.
And you're ready at that point to say, "I need a Savior. I need a Rescuer from this sin." Especially when you understand that the Bible says that sin carries an eternal death penalty, which Jesus loved you so much that He paid on the cross when He died for your sin. And He walked out of his grave; He's alive. He can walk into your life this very day at your invitation and forgive that sin, and erase it forever.
If you're ready for that next step that makes that possible - a new you - you can find some answers at our website ANewStory.com. I hope you'll go there. Maybe this new year is time for new management.