A SERVING LEADER
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
Matthew 20:26
TODAY'S WORD
In traditional African societies, leadership succession is a serious decision. After a king’s demise, great care is taken selecting the next ruler. Besides being from a royal family, the successor must be strong, fearless, and sensible. Candidates are questioned to determine if they will serve the people or rule with a heavy hand. The king’s successor needs to be someone who leads but also serves.
Even though Solomon made his own bad choices, he worried over his successor. “Who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill” (Eccl. 2:19). His son Rehoboam was that successor. He demonstrated a lack of sound judgment and ended up fulfilling his father’s worst fear.
We need God's wisdom for the humility to serve rather than to be served.
When the people requested more humane working conditions, it was an opportunity for Rehoboam to show servant leadership. “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them . . . ,” the elders advised, “they will always be your servants” (1 Kings 12:7). But he rejected their counsel. Rehoboam failed to seek God. His harsh response to the people divided the kingdom and accelerated the spiritual decline of God’s people (12:14-19).
In the family, the workplace, at church, or in our neighborhood—we need His wisdom for the humility to serve rather than be served.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, please give me a humble servant’s heart. Help me to lead and follow with humility and compassion.
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HIDDEN TREASURE
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Search for [insight and understanding] as for hidden treasure."
Proverbs 2:4
TODAY'S WORD
My husband and I read in different ways. Since English is a second language for Tom, he has a tendency to read slowly, word-for-word. I often speed-read by skimming. But Tom retains more than I do. He can easily quote something he read a week ago, while my retention can evaporate seconds after I turn away from the screen or book.
Skimming is also a problem when I’m reading the Bible—and not just the genealogies. I’m tempted to skim familiar passages, stories I’ve heard since I was a child, or a psalm that is part of a familiar chorus.
We come to know God and His wisdom when we search for it with our whole heart.
Proverbs 2 encourages us to make the effort to know God better by carefully seeking a heart of understanding. When we read the Bible carefully and invest time memorizing Scripture, we absorb its truths more deeply (vv. 1-2). Sometimes reading the Word aloud helps us to hear and understand the wisdom of God more fully. And when we pray the words of Scripture back to God and ask Him for “insight and understanding” (v. 3), we enjoy a conversation with the Author.
We come to know God and His wisdom when we search for it with our whole heart. We find understanding when we seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help me to slow down and listen to what You want to teach me through Your Word so I can be the person You want me to be.
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TRAINING FOR LIFE
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9:27
TODAY'S WORD
I recently met a woman who has pushed her body and mind to the limit. She climbed mountains, faced death, and even broke a Guinness world record. Now she’s engaged in a different challenge—that of raising her special-needs child. The courage and faith she employed while ascending the mountains she now pours into motherhood.
In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul speaks of a runner competing in a race. After urging a church enamored with their rights to give consideration to one another (ch. 8), he explains how he sees the challenges of love and self-sacrifice to be like a marathon of endurance (ch. 9). As followers of Jesus, they are to relinquish their rights in obedience to Him.
As athletes train their bodies that they might win the crown, we too train our bodies and minds for our souls to flourish. As we ask the Holy Spirit to transform us, moment by moment, we leave our old selves behind. Empowered by God, we stop ourselves from uttering that cruel word. We put away our electronic device and remain present with our friends. We don’t have to speak the last word in a disagreement.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, let me not demand my rights, but train to win the prize that lasts forever.
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THE WARRIOR’S WARFARE WEAPON
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
2 Corinthians 10:4
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TODAY'S WORD
The Christian race is a battle. Satan is the aggressor fighting against Christ and His Saints. The warfare is spiritual and prayer is one resource employed to fight the battle. A Bible Scholar said, “Satan is a creature and no match for the Creator. Satan is powerful, but not omnipotent. He can hinder but cannot prevent. He can convince the prayer warrior that his/her prayer has not reached the throne, but remember he is a defeated antagonist…You cannot avoid warfare…Therefore, you must draw near to God, resist the devil and he will flee.” Christian youth, you are in a warfare against Satan and his hosts. Every area of your life is subject to Satan’s attack. He can attack your health, finances, academics, career or your spiritual life. His goal is to snatch you out of God’s hand. Always be fervent in prayer. Also fortify yourself with God’s Word, be strong in faith, live a holy life, and God will give you victory over Satan and his hosts.
TODAY'S PRAYER
O Lord, make me an effective prayer warrior.
HOLY HABITATION
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit."
Isaiah 57:15
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TODAY'S WORD
Fanny Crosby was a woman of God who composed over 9,000 hymns. Born with normal sight, Fanny became blind sequel to a cold she suffered at the age of six weeks. At eight years, Fanny wrote, “Oh what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be.” Many people sympathized with her condition, and to one of them she said, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind...Because when I get to heaven, the first face that will ever gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour.” Dear youth, do you think of heaven? Heaven is God’s holy habitation. Only the redeemed will dwell with Him there. Are you redeemed? If you are not, don’t miss the opportunity today. Confess your sins to Christ now, surrender to Him and live with heaven in view then you will be sure of a place in heaven, the holy habitation of God and His Saints.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, help me to make heaven, your holy habitation.