Faulty Flatteries

All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ~ Daniel 6:7

Well, they started off with a lie. They said ALL of the high officials of the kingdom, but Daniel was not a part of their scheme. But they insinuated that he was. And did you notice how they flattered the king?

They made it seem like it was all about the king. Like you’re doing such a great job, O king. You are so wise. We believe you’re the best thing since slice bread O king. And your wisdom is forever. We believe that for the next thirty days, no one should petition, pray, or seek the advice of anyone else, not even a god, no one, except for you.

You’re simply the best! Better than all the rest!

And with these words, they stroked King Darius’ ego. When flattering lips begin to stroke your ego, beware, it is not your best interest they are seeking, but their own.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Put God Above

16 King Asa also removed Maacah, his grandmother, from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image, then crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ~ 2 Chronicles 15:16CSB

Many of us put family above everything, and in most cases, it’s the right order, but not in all cases. Sometimes the family member is living in sin and needs to be corrected. Sometimes, they even need to be removed from their position of authority.

King Asa was a good king. He tried to follow the LORD, even if it meant taking away the royal position of queen mother from his grandmother. King Asa knew that it doesn’t matter if they are family or not; you have to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD. You have to put God above all other things.

Nothing has changed today. God still must be honored and placed above all else because it is only He that saves. It’s only He that gives life. And it’s only He that can keep us from living a life of sin. Therefore, we must regard God above all else so that He might keep us from a sinful  life away from Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Put God Above.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Experience More

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 2:20-21

To be sanctified simply means to be set apart as holy. Matter-of-fact, we’re not just set apart as holy, but we are set apart as holy because we have been brought into the arms of God, into the Kingdom of God. This is why we will be recognized by our fruit, because unless we are transformed by the renewing of our mind, then we aren’t sanctified. We are still in darkness.

Jesus didn’t come into this world so that we can remain in the world and never change. Jesus came to redeem us out of the world into His Glorious Light. Christ came and suffered so that we might be sanctified through Him.

Don’t allow the lies of the world to keep you from being transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus. Don’t allow them to keep you stuck in the darkness, unable to encounter the Light and experience the Truth and Love of God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Experience More.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Take Back Control

19b … that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice. ~ Genesis 18:19

God chose Abram not because he was the wealthiest man, the wisest man, or even the most righteous man. God chose Abram because God foresaw that Abram would teach his children and their children to follow the Word of the LORD. That was it. God knew that Abram would lead his household in the ways of righteousness in a way that it would be passed down from generation to generation.

Understand that the job of the father in the home is to command His children and his household in the things of God. Fathers, we don’t leave that up to the mothers to do. That is not their job. It is our job to command our children and our household in the things of God.

We are to teach and instruct. We are to guide and lead. That is the basic duty of a father. Statistics show that a child is more likely to stay in the Church when they grow into an adult if their father is an active member of the Church. Don’t leave your fatherly duty up to anyone else. We are to lead our families by following God and living our lives for Him, so that we might be an active example for our households.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Take Control.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Will The Clay Say …

16 You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? ~ Isaiah 29:16

When you put it that way, it is ludicrous. The Clay could never say to the Potter, “You did not make me.” The Clay would sound like a real simpleton because everybody would see the stupidity in it, and the Clay would be the laughing stock. But it is you, oh man, whom the LORD has thus addressed. It is today’s society that claims there is no God and has raised a rebellion against their Creator. It is today’s people that claim that they were not created, but evolved.

The truth is God did create us, and we are the work of His hands. He has created us to be who we are and has a plan for us. Our job, therefore, is to find out what that plan is and to follow that plan as best we can, for the LORD is our Helper and our source of strength. Apart from Him, we can do nothing; even our breath is borrowed from Him. So, why would we rage against Him? Why would we say He never formed me? Or the LORD God never created us. I assure you, God takes care of that which belongs to Him. He will keep in perfect peace, which He has formed. If you want to be taken care of, or if you want to have perfect peace, submit to God; no one can pluck you out of His hand, and nothing can steal your peace.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are God and that You have created me. For if You have created me, You will take care of me. I accept Your care right now, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Counting The Cost

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:8-10

We are saved by grace through faith. It is God’s gift to us, to everyone who believes and takes refuge in Jesus. We are born again to perform good works; it is not by good works that we are saved, but make no mistake, we are saved for good works. Sometimes, the concept gets blurred, and ‘no good works’ takes place. But the reality is, if you are born again, that is, if you have accepted Jesus as your LORD and Savior, then you are expected to do good works without counting the cost.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand tells a story about a communist soldier who was sent to him by one of his friends because he could not speak Russian, but Wurmbrand could. Wurmbrand told the Russian officer the story of Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount; the man danced around the room in rapturous joy and proclaimed, “Wonderful beauty. How could I live without knowing this Christ.” But when Wurmbrand got to the part where Jesus was crucified and died, the officer began to weep uncontrollably and fell into an armchair.

He had heard the Gospel for the first time, came to believe in Jesus, and fell in love with Him, but now this Savior that he had come to believe in and Who loved him was dead. Wurmbrand had not expected that reaction, so he quickly told him about the resurrection. When he did, the soldier jumped to his feet, began to dance around the room again, and cried out with joy, “He’s alive! He’s alive!”

What am I talking about? I’m talking about sharing the Gospel. We are saved for good works, and there is no better good works than that of sharing the Gospel with someone who has never heard it. Wurmbrand took his own life, or at the very least, he took his own freedom in his hands to tell this Communist officer about the love of Jesus. He did not count the cost. He did not consider his life too precious or his risk of a prison sentence too much to pay; he understood that he was created for good works. There is a great reward coming for those who do good works.

We too are expected to do no less. We must tell the world that Jesus loves them. That Jesus cares for them. That we are so important to Him that He actually died a horrific death in our place. He died so that we might have eternal life.

Jesus is coming back real soon and only what we do for Him here will be sent on ahead of us into eternity. We need to tell as many people as possible. We need to try to save the world and stop counting the cost. Man may try to ban the Gospel, but we must obey God. So, Go ye into all the world and tell everyone about the love of Jesus we are told. So go, tell the world about the free gift of salvation, it’s life eternal for all who believe.

Heavenly Father, give me boldness and confidence to tell everyone I meet about You. Give me the wisdom to know how to share the Good News so that some may hear, and might believe, and live and not die. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Shall I Not Drink My Cup

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” ~ John 18:10-11

Judas had led a company of armed soldiers, along with some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees, to where Jesus and His disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Simon Peter saw what was going on, he drew his sword in a daring attempt to defend Jesus, and he struck Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

But Jesus shouted to Peter, “Cephus, put your sword away! Do you not think that I can call on my Father and He will put at My disposal more than ten thousand of His angels? Or do you suppose that I should not drink the cup that is given to me? If I do not drink, how then can the Scriptures be fulfilled? And if the Scriptures are not fulfilled, you have no life; you have no salvation.”

By saying and doing this, Jesus has set a precedence for us. If Jesus, being God, felt it necessary to drink the cup that He was given, how much more should we feel the need to drink the cup that is given to us. Too many times, we as Christians hope for a certain situation to turn out such and such a way and when it does not happen the way we have designed its conclusion, we are crying, “Woe is me! Woe is me!”

We’ve all been given a cup to drink; shall I not drink my cup, and shall you not drink your cup? Of course we should, to each his own cup, to each his own trials and rewards. What God has called you to do is not what God has called me to do, and vice versa.

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells the story of Peter being warned that Nero was seeking an opportunity to put him to death. It stated that the believer’s persistence for him to escape the city was so strong that he was persuaded to flee. As he was coming to the gate, he saw the LORD Jesus coming to meet him.

“LORD, where are You going?” Peter asked Him. “I am come again to be crucified,” was His answer. It was then that Peter had to answer for himself the question, “Shall I Not Drink My Cup?” And Peter turned around and went back into the city. He was crucified upside down at his own request, as he did not feel worthy to suffer in the same manner as the LORD had.

We all have a cup to drink, some more bitter than others. Still, we must all drink the cup that is handed to us. Serving Jesus is not all peaches and cream. It is not all sunshine and games. Some will have to drink the cup of suffering, or the cup of persecution, and others the cup of Martyrdom, and some the cup of joy and increase. Whatever your cup, whatever my cup, we must all drink.

Dear Heavenly Father, help me not to complain about the cup that I have been handed. Help me not to look at others’ blessings and complain, but rather to be grateful that I have the privilege to drink the cup that is handed to me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Much Fear And Trembling

16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. ~ Galatians 2:16CSB

As far as salvation goes, there is absolutely nothing you can do to earn it. It is received the moment that you accept Jesus as your own personal LORD and Savior. Now, this isn’t to say that works are of no effect because the Bible tells us that we must work out our salvation with much fear and trembling.

Therefore, you have everything to do with your own salvation. It all depends on how you live and how you interact with your fellow people. For instance, Jesus said that if we don’t forgive those who trespass against us, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us our sins.

Now, does that sound like you have absolutely nothing to do with your salvation? No, it depends wholly and completely on you. So, the next time you’re tempted with the lie that you can do whatever you want and you’re good, reconsider your actions.

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me, and please help me to live for You and to be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Stop Hiding The Light

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise. ~ Proverbs 11:30

It’s politically incorrect to share Jesus with anyone these days. So, most Christians keep their faith to themselves. Their friends, co-workers, colleagues, neighbors, etc., have no idea that they are Christians. Many feel this is the best way to not force their beliefs on others, but is that what we’re doing when we share our faith? God’s main purpose for us is to return to Him, but as Paul said, “How can they believe if they have never heard? And how can they hear if no one ever tells them?”

When we share our faith, we’re not forcing it on others; we’re giving them the opportunity to get to know Jesus. We’re giving them the opportunity to be saved. To remain silent and never share your faith is like hiding your light under a basket or burying your coin in the ground. It becomes useless to us and those around us. We don’t have to force salvation down someone’s throat to give them the opportunity to learn more about our faith. We just have to be willing to allow the Light of Christ to shine through us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stop Hiding The Light.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This:

Seek First Love

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The Holy Spirit manifests His presence in two main ways: fruit and gifts. Jesus says in Matthew 7:15-20 that we will know the difference between sheep (Christians) and wolves in sheep’s clothing (non-Christians) by their fruit. So, the Holy Spirit displays His presence by the fruit we bear. Now, out of the Fruit of the Spirit, there is one fruit that we must all have: love.

Paul explains you can have all of the gifts in the world, but they are nothing unless you have love, the most important thing of all. Many of us desire the gifts of the Spirit, as we should, but we lack one thing: love.

Smith Wigglesworth was a man of God who saw miracles happen. He himself performed many miracles in the name of Jesus. He even resurrected his wife when she died. Even though he saw miracle after miracle, his main goal, his main objective wasn’t to heal as many people as possible or to perform as many miracles as possible. Smith Wigglesworth’s main objective was to save as many souls as possible. He wanted to win as many people to Christ as he could through his testimony and sharing the Gospel; he was a true evangelist at heart. Why? Because he understood that miracles and healings were amazing gifts, but the heart of the Father is love. His desire is that none should perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

We should all seek miracles, healing, signs, and wonders, but in order to truly have those things, we first need love. Not just any love either, but the love of God. We need to love the world the way God loves the world, not the things of the world, but the souls. When soul-winning (building the Kingdom of God) becomes our main focus, the rest will begin to fall into place.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Seek First Love.

Back to Growth?

Back to Daily Bread?

Similar Content

Like and Share This: