Friday, September 17

God gave us the gift of a conscience to act as a moral compass, but if we ignore it, we may suffer shipwreck. When writing to Timothy, Paul charged the young man to keep the truths of the faith and a good conscience. Ignoring either piece of advice could have put young Timothy in danger. 

The conscience is an inner monitor that judges our actions as right or wrong. It our conscience fails us, it is in need of redemption. Depending on how it’s been programmed, our moral compass even has the potential to nudge us in the wrong direction. 

Paul himself is an illustration of this. His formal education as a Pharisee had taught him that Christians were a threat to God and the Jewish faith. His conscience had been programmed to see killing them as service to the Lord. So he passionately hunted believers down without a twinge of guilt. Only after Christ met him on the way to Damascus was his inner sense of right and wrong transformed and his life’s course altered. 

We need the truths of faith to shape our conscience so we can trust it to lead us in the right direction. Take a moment to ask the Lord if anything is clouding your internal signals, and trust in His promise to make your path straight.

Memory verse: 1 Timothy 1:12.

Conscience is the detective that watches our steps and decry every conscious transgressions”

Thursday, September 16.

Kenneth Hughes wrote about a story a missionary to Africa told. A blind elderly woman was reached with the gospel. Though she was blind and could neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others. She went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her.

In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ. The missionary said that twenty-four of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors.

When Jesus walked this earth, he did not sit passively and wait for folks to come to him. Jesus went out where the sick, the sorrowing, and the sad were. Jesus took his message of joy, healing, and salvation. At a ender age, Jesus went to the temple and taught the doctors and lawyers who were entrenched in the old traditions. It is so interesting to read in Matthew 4:19, how this man went to the seaside intruding the life of the commonest of laborers saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He was a soul winner. Are you a soul winner?

Memory verse: Matthew 4:19.

“Winners of souls must first be weepers of souls” (Charles Spurgeon).

Wednesday, September 15.

In our individualistic society, we may think we don’t need anyone’s help in making decisions, forming convictions, or distinguishing truth from error. But such self-reliance doesn’t lead to true wisdom and spiritual discernment. To know the Lord’s mind about a matter, we must rely on His Word. In the pages of Scripture, God has revealed who He is, how He works, and the way His followers are to deepen both their understanding and their relationship with Him.

God has also appointed leaders in the church to help us develop spiritual discernment. They do this by teaching sound doctrine and refuting any ideas that contradict Scripture. Under the instruction of these mature believers, we can grow in righteousness by learning biblical truths and then applying them. 

Since every aspect of life is influenced by our capacity to make wise, godly judgments, it’s essential that we read the Bible and heed the instruction of our pastors. The truths we learn become a filter for everything we see, hear, and experience. Then, if we encounter error, our internal alarm will go off to protect us from deception. 

We all need help when it comes to wisdom. So let’s ask the Lord today to guide us away from self-reliance and towards His holy Word. 

Memory verse: Proverbs 3:5

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge” (Charles Spurgeon).

Tuesday, September 14.

When I taught Core Science to high school students, I recall the disruptive environment of the classroom at certain times. When my facial expression became serious, the students would get quiet. I would thank the students for listening. There is a difference between hearing and listening. Webster defines hearing as “the process, function, or power of perceiving sound…” Webster says to listen is to “hear something with thoughtful attention; to give consideration.

It’s amazing how two people can hear the same sermon about the same portion of Scripture and yet walk away with completely different reactions. One could be deeply affected and the other indifferent to the message. Why does this happen? The main reason is the condition of a person’s heart.

Nehemiah 8 is an amazing scene of God’s people coming together to hear His Word. They had been in captivity for many years and were hungry for His Word. For most of them, this was the first time they heard the Scriptures. 

Are you hungry for God’s Word? Do you listen eagerly with an expectant mind and heart? When we genuinely long to know more of the Lord, it’s easier for our mind to focus on what He’s saying. This is the case whether we’re listening to a pastor or teacher, reading our Bible, or following a book study.  MY FRIENDS LISTENING IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE. GOD WANTS US TO OBEY: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say?” (Luke 6:46).

So many things clamor for our focus, but nothing is as important as what the Lord has to say. He is worthy of our undivided attention. Remember, Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). Rest assured that whoever listens to God’s Word with an open heart and alert mind will receive from Him.

Memory verse; Matthew 5:6

“Obedience is a choice between our limited knowledge and God’s unlimited knowledge and power” (L. Tom Perry).

Monday, September 13.

My first ride on an airplane was on December 23, 2003. I flew from Accra, Ghana to Monrovia Liberia via Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was a smooth ride. I remembered people clapping when we landed at Roberts International Airport. My third flight took me from Accra, Ghana to BWI, Baltimore,Maryland. It was a direct flight, lasting almost fourteen hours. It was bumpy and scary. I’ve had the privilege of flying in several other planes, but never once have I asked the pilot about his qualifications or the trustworthiness of the plane. I simply expected him and his aircraft to carry me safely to my destination. We usually don’t have trouble relying on planes or automobiles without question, yet we sometimes fail to trust the Lord. 

Our faith in God is like spiritual glasses through which we view the world around us. Our physical eyesight may not detect His almighty hand working in the events and situations of life, but faith looks beyond the externals to the truth and promises of Scripture. 

Our foundation of assurance is built upon God’s Word and our experiences of His trustworthiness. We have no cause for worry or uncertainty because the Lord of the universe is sovereign over every event under heaven, and that includes the details of our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us not to be anxious; instead, we’re to bring our concerns and requests to God with thanksgiving, trusting Him to work it all out according to His will. Then His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Memory verse: Philippians 4:6

“A man who is a master of patience is a master of everything else” (George Savile).