Word For Today

The Word for Today.....

A daily devotional written
by Bob Gass, full of insight and wisdom to help and inspire you each day.

Sunday, 1 August 2010
Read Your Bible!
'But the word of the Lord stands forever...' 1 Peter 1:25

Jana Jones says, 'During the day I take a few moments to unwind by reading the Bible. After seeing me do this for several months, my four-year-old daughter became concerned: "Aren't you ever going to finish reading that book?"' You could read the Bible for a lifetime and not 'scratch the surface'. There's no other book like it. For example, 1) No human being would have written to such a high standard. Stop and think of the best person you know. You must admit, even they would have left certain things out, wouldn't they? 2) There's an aura the Bible generates that no other book does. Martin Luther said, 'The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.' Try laying a newspaper on your table at a restaurant and no one will give you a second look. But lay your Bible on it and they'll stare at you, watch you chew your food, and maybe even take a note of your licence plate when you get into your car. That's because the Bible creates a sense of God's presence that forces a reaction in the hearts of men and women. 3) We are changed as we read it. Our core values are altered, peace enters our spirit, joy wells up within our heart. 'The Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us to what we really are' (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). The answers you need are in your Bible, so make it part of your everyday life.

Monday, 2 August 2010
Keep Climbing
'Give me this [mountain] that the Lord promised me.' Joshua 14:12

Admiral Joe Fowler served in both World Wars. As a naval architect he designed two of America's largest aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga. He retired from the Navy in 1948. Shortly after, Walt Disney asked him to head up the design and construction of his first theme park in California. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Not only did Fowler complete the project in 1955, but he also managed its operation for many years. Later, when Disney wanted to build another theme park in Florida, he called Fowler to do it. When Fowler completed the project in 1971, he was 71. End of story? No, when Fowler was 87 Disney called on him again to build a futuristic theme park called Epcot Center. When asked why he would take on such a project aged 87, Fowler replied, 'You don't have to die until you want to'. In 1993 he completed the job, and laid down his drawing board at the age of 99. Mission accomplished! At 85 years of age, Caleb said to Joshua, 'Give me this [mountain] that the Lord promised me [45 years ago]' (Joshua 14:12). Did he get it? Yes. So keep climbing. Will you make mistakes along the way? Sure! Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear in his first car. He also went bankrupt five times before becoming the father of the automobile industry. You'll stumble on your way to the top, but if you seek God's help and stay with it, you'll get there. The truth is, you're not defeated until your doubts and regrets take the place of your dreams.

Tuesday, 3 August 2010
    What's Good for the Goose (1)
    'Look at the birds in the sky!...' Matthew 6:26

    Speaking to an anxiety-ridden crowd, Jesus said, 'I tell you not to worry about your life... Look at the birds in the sky!' You say, 'What can I learn from looking at a bunch of birds?' If you've ever been to Pennsylvania in early winter, you'll have seen the skies literally darken as multitudes of Canadian geese gather for their annual flight to the sunny south. For the next few days let's look at their behaviour, and learn from it. Geese fly united; they don't fly separately, in random style, because no goose alone can go that distance. They're designed to fly in their characteristic 'V' formation. When a bird flaps its wings the air movement created provides an uplift, easing the workload of the bird behind it. Together, their flight range increases about 71 per cent. Even the youngest, weakest and oldest geese can make the trip. They accomplish together what they could never accomplish separately. There's a lesson here: when the Bible says, 'Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another...' (Hebrews 10:25 NIV), it means, 'Stay in fellowship with one another, and enjoy the uplift it provides.' You're not called to fly solo. 'The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"' (1 Corinthians 12:21 NIV). Occasionally a goose strays off on its own but soon becomes exhausted, loses altitude and ultimately pulls wearily back into the formation. 'Look at the birds', and learn.

Wednesday, 4 August 2010
    What's Good for the Goose (2)
    'Look at the birds in the sky!...' Matthew 6:26

    Every formation has to have a 'point goose' out front, who leads and sets the pace for the others. It's a tough position because the point goose cuts the headwinds, meets the changing weather conditions, and is first to feel the rain in his face, the snow in his eyes and the ice on his wings. He keeps the formation on target whatever the situation. It's hard, exhausting and lonely at times because there's nobody ahead of him to be the wind beneath his wings. The formation depends on him to persevere, stay on track and get the skein safely to its destination. Every church has its point goose: the pastor. Each department has its point geese: youth, finance, evangelism, care ministries, and so on. They lead, set the pace and give direction to those who follow. There are two common roles in the church: the under-employed and the over-functioning. Point ministries are the latter, so they tend to burn out frequently. Just before the point goose is exhausted, a space opens in the formation and he slips back into it while another bird replaces him, seamlessly becoming the next point goose. Standing in for each other preserves the life of the formation. This is what Paul meant: 'The whole body [is] held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part...' (Ephesians 4:16 NAS). Don't be content to be a consumer; instead, be a producer! A great church isn't about paid staff; rather, it's about volunteers willing to stand in whenever needed.

Thursday, 5 August 2010
    What's Good for the Goose (3)
    'Look at the birds in the sky!...' Matthew 6:26

     In the world of geese, the aged, very young, and infirm are kept protected in the rear of the formation. But they aren't isolated, discounted or considered useless; in fact they fulfil a vital role. They become the honking section and cheer for the leaders. Inevitably, bad weather threatens the mission. The going gets tough and the tough are struggling. From the rear of the formation a lone honk sounds, initiating a geese chorus honking encouragement to the point goose. Paul understood this: '...Encourage one another and build each other up...' (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). He knew we need a 'honking section' supporting us with uplifting words and prayer. We need those who say, 'We are behind you. We've got your back covered!' 'But... you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good' (2 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV). Many a servant of Christ has crossed their deepest valley on a wing, a prayer and a honk from some oldscarred, battle-hardened, straggle-feathered, half-bald honker of encouragement who was too stubborn to let a brother or sister quit on their watch! Occasionally, a strident, out-of-tune goose complains loudly and irritatingly. Within moments the honking section kicks in, drowning out the grumbler, restoring order and unity. The church's problem isn't too many people speaking negatively, it's too few speaking positively! When someone cries, 'defeat', honk back, 'victory' When they cry, 'fear', honk back, 'faith'. A few words of encouragement can overpower a storm of complaints. So join the honking section and be known like Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36 NIV).

Friday, 6 August 2010
    What's Good for the Goose (4)
    'Look at the birds in the sky!...' Matthew 6:26

    With geese, their relationship is 'till death do us part'. They take it seriously. They're fully committed. When the ravages of time or circumstances make it impossible for a bird to continue the trip and it begins to lose altitude or fails to keep abreast of the formation, the gaggle provides it with comfort, nurture and protection. Two strong geese leave the formation, flying with the 'patient' safely between them, find a sheltered location with food and water and make a home for the needy bird. They'll stay with their ward until it either recovers or dies, before joining another formation. For them, everything goes 'on hold' to care for another bird! What an example of Christ-like relationship and self-sacrificing love. '...God has combined the members of the body... that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it...' (1 Corinthians 12:24-26 NIV). In today's culture we discount and marginalise the needy, including those no longer functioning as they once did. But God demands that we 'have equal concern for each other', especially with those suffering. If a gaggle of birds can do it, surely God's family ought to do it too. 'Look at the birds in the sky!' Jesus directs. If they can do it for each other, '...Aren't you worth more than birds?' (Matthew 6:26 CEV). One of the two greatest commandments (not suggestions) Christ gave us is, '...Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater...' (Mark 12:31 NIV). When word circulates that we love each other in this way, they'll beat down the doors of our church to get in!

Saturday, 7 August 2010
    What's Good for the Goose (5)
    'Look at the birds in the sky!...' Matthew 6:26

     Lost and stray geese are always welcomed into the formation. It's not an exclusive club for the elite. Birds separated from other formations, isolated by weather, accident or infirmity, are given full family status. The formation will alter its plans, reschedule its arrival time and inconvenience itself to accommodate any strangers seeking its acceptance. Many newcomers arrive dirty, bedraggled and ill-fed. They're never turned away. In the same way, God's church isn't a museum for masterpieces - it's a hospital for those who have been hurt by life, even self-inflicted hurt. Jesus said, '...All... who are weary and carry heavy burdens...' are accepted (Matthew 11:28 NLT). 'I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also... there shall be one flock and one shepherd.' (John 10:16 NIV). Christ has no higher agenda than to recruit, save and adopt the stranger into His flock. You say, 'But they're not my kind of people; they don't look, talk or smell like me!' So what? We don't get to choose our biological or spiritual siblings; God does. If they rub us like sandpaper they're helping rub off rough edges and polish us up. Want to see the material God builds the church with? Prepare yourself for a shock. '...The unrighteous... fornicators... idolaters... adulterers... homosexuals... thieves... covetous... drunkards... revilers... extortioners... And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God' (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV). We were taken into the formation we were washed, sanctified, justified and given full family status!

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