The Daily Dose

Give an invitation

Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”  They said to Him, “Rabbi, where are You staying?”  He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day. John 1:38-39

Point #5                                  Invite others into your life

Jesus is our greatest example of inviting others to walk through life with Him.  He started out with just a few, but His ministry grew to where He had hundreds of people walking with Him each day.  They all didn’t work in His ministry, but He never turned anyone away.  We can learn a great deal from His leadership model, but the biggest thing is that He invited others to walk through life with Him.

Life looks quite a bit different today than it did in Jesus day.  However, we can still invite others into our lives.  I’m not talking about social media or some kind of internet connection, I’m talking about inviting others to walk through life with you.  We get so caught up in our own little world with work and family, that we don’t make time for connecting with others that may not have the support of family and friends.

One of the easiest ways to make connections with other Christians is in small groups.  Whether It’s a spiritual study or a fun activity, small groups are an excellent way to invite others into your life.  This is exactly what Jesus did.  He started with a small group of believers that He met with regularly and they brought others with them to meet Him.  In doing this, the outreach is endless.

You can also invite others into your life by bringing them to church with you or even taking them to a concert or other activity that you have going on in life.  The bottom line is, keep an eye out for those who don’t have anyone or who are looking to connect with a group or others for support and friendship.  Then invite them to join your life and be there for them when they need encouragement or a helping hand.

Today I want to encourage you to invite others into your life.  The truth is that God designed us to be an outreach to those who are alone and disconnected.  We are in one of the greatest times of disconnect the world has ever seen.  Invite someone to connect with you this week.  Make it a practice to invite someone new into your life each week or month.  It doesn’t matter how often, but ask God to bring those your way that may be searching.  Even if they don’t know it, you could be the one that saves them from destruction.

Today’s scripture reading: John 1:35-51

Humble yourself

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Point #4                                  Ask for help

This is something I’m not good at, asking for help.  I like to think I can handle everything on my own.  Do you know anyone like that, or maybe you are someone like that?  I often think I can bear down and ride out the storm and no one needs to be the wiser.  I don’t want to bother anyone with my problems, people have enough trouble of their own without having to take on my issues too.  Sometimes I avoid asking for help because I don’t want to admit that I’m struggling.  I want everyone to think I’ve got it all together, but the truth is, my pride is in full swing, and I am about to crash and burn.  Sure, I go to God for help.  It isn’t difficult to admit I’m loosing to God, He already knows everything.  However, I am learning that going to God alone isn’t all that He has planned.

The truth is that needing others to get through life has always been a part of God’s plan.  From the very beginning He said, “It’s not good for man/people to be alone.”  First, He set up families, then governments and now the church.  These organisms are the divine plan for creation and ultimately God’s will for all His people.  In God’s perfect world all of His family works together and walks through life together, helping each other through.

Today’s verse is about bearing each other’s burdens.  In isolating yourself and trying to carry your trouble alone, you are opening yourself up to a fall.  Whether great or small, it is a path to stay far from.  Even if you do not fall into sin, you are headed for failure and disappointment.  Moses faced this battle in the wilderness.  After he led God’s people out of Egypt, he let the burden of leading the people fall completely on him.  Soon he found out he could not keep up on his own.  Instead of being prideful and not wanting to look like he couldn’t handle his mission in life, his father-in-law helped him to see that all the people around him could help with the mission because it was God’s mission (Exodus 18) 

In reality, asking others for help ends up blessing them.  In Moses’ case, the people felt included and became part of the solution.  In your case, it may be different, but the results will be that people will want to help, provided you are not pulling on them constantly to take care of life for you.  No, this is a balance.  Make every effort to be there for others as much if not more than you are looking to others for help.  We all help each other out, everyone doing their part in that way every piece will fit into one body, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

Today I want to encourage you to ask others for help.  Humble yourself and submit your concerns to others for advice, wisdom and comfort.  Not all the time, but when you are in a struggle, reach out to others and at minimum ask for prayer.  Then look for opportunities to bear others burdens when they are weak and unable to handle life’s pressure.  Be an encouragement and always look for ways that you can bless others.  In doing so, you will be blessed, and others will want to be there when you need a helping hand.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 18

August 2, 2020                                     Make a plan

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God;  For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.  Psalms 43:5

Point #3                                                 Plan for bad days

As I was preparing to write today’s dose, ironically, I had a bad day.  Even though I knew that bad days come sometimes, I didn’t have a plan in place.  Oh, nothing bad happened, but I was having an internal struggle.  Have you ever had days like that?  Days when your energy level was so low and your motivation to move forward was zero?  Days when there was nothing wrong, but you still felt uneasy and uninspired?  These days will inevitably come, so the best way to combat them is to have a plan ahead of time.

I actually googled planning for a bad day and came up with some good suggestions.  It seems that even the world recognizes that you can plan for “bad” days.  The suggestion were such things as: Start the day by eating something great because food is a huge part of who you are and how you feel.  Listen to your best “pump me up” music.  Make a plan to do something you love.  Do something to make progress, however small. Over-share gratitude. 

While these are good suggestions, and certainly you can use these in your plan, I believe the best way is in today’s scripture.  The psalmist says when you are feeling down and uneasy the first thing to do is hope in the God.  Psalms 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength and a very present help in time of trouble.  God is the first place to go on a bad day.  The truth is, God should be the first place we go every day and may avert many bad days if this is daily planned into your schedule.  Set aside a time each morning before you are immersed into your day to sit quietly with God to rejuvenate and generate inspiration for the day. 

The next thing today’s verse says to do is praise God.  Whether its in the form of a song or in being thankful, offer to God the sacrifice of praise.  The sacrifice is in the offering when you are not quite feeling it, but by faith, you are thankful and recognize the help and protection God has given you in the past and present time. Hebrews 13:15 & 16 says Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual the sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.  The sacrifice of praise and doing good for others. These “sacrifices” take your focus off of you and whatever is troubling you at the time.  This is good advice. 

Lastly, the psalmist says that God is the help of our countenance.  It means He lifts us up.  This is when it is good to have a list of “God” confessions for make over yourself.  Remind yourself of how God sees you in Christ Jesus.  Things like:

I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

He always causes me to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14) 

I am filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) 

I have been adopted and now have the relationship with God as His child (Romans 8:17) 

God hears my prayers and answers them (John 5:15)   

He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) 

Jesus loves me in spite of my failures and sins (John 3:16) 

God will meet every need I have according to the extent of His riches (Philippians 4:19)      

The list is endless and you can make your own declarations that are appropriate for what you are feeling that day.  The point is, see yourself as God sees you not as the world does.

Today I want to encourage you to make a plan for the days you are feeling down.  Writing down the things you want to accomplish the night before is a good way to start.  Make a list of goals for the next day, and then pray God’s strength and inspirations over that list.  Then, each day when you get up, have that quiet time with God to: Hope in God, praise God and confess the good things of God over yourself and your day.  Then take a scripture or confession with you throughout the day and speak it out loud every time those feelings of doubt and discouragement come.  Let God and His Word be the help of your countenance. Having a plan will shorten and eliminate bad days from coming at all.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 43

Follow the Spirit

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  John 16:13

Point #2                                                      Be led

If you could hear from anyone, past, present or future to help you navigate life successfully, who would you chose?  Would it be someone from the past who had great business sense?  Would it be someone from the future who could tell you things that are coming?  Maybe someone from today who is successful and famous?  What if you could talk to just one person who knew all about the past, present and future?  Well, you can, and not only can you talk to Him, you can hear from Him too.  Today’s key verse says the Holy Spirit of God can be your guide in life.  He will show you things to come when you listen closely and follow His direction.

As a born again, child of God, He has placed His Spirit within you.  The scripture says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit inside of each child of God for our eternal inheritance. (see 2 Corinthians 1:22)  That same Spirit will lead you through this life in safety and wisdom.  When you need direction you can ask and He will lead.  When you need protection, ask and He protects.  You can draw on the wisdom, power and strength of the Holy Spirit by faith at any time.  24/7.  Now that’s a real gift. 

But how?  How do we hear?  It comes from knowing His voice.  In John 10:27 Jesus said my sheep know my voice and follow.  This is the key.  To know the internal voice of God.  It starts by hearing His voice in His Word.  By taking time to read and learn God’s Word, you become familiar with His character.  Just like Jesus said He was the good shepherd and the sheep know His voice.  They know the Shepherd because they hang out with Him all day long and He feeds and protects them.  He is always looking out for their good and can see ahead of the flock for what is coming up next. 

The Holy Spirit is the same way with us.  He can see what is coming up and help us to avert destruction and harm.  He can also lead us to the “green” pastures if we will follow.  Because we cannot see the same things that He can, we may not trust His voice because it doesn’t look like the best path right now.  Maybe it isn’t popular or maybe it is not the answer google gives.  However, the Holy Spirit knows things even google doesn’t know, if you can believe that.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all if you do not know the good Shepherd personally, invite Him into your life today.  Then get to know Him by setting special time aside each day to read His Word, talk to Him (pray) and listen quietly for a minute as you ask if there is anything He would say to you.  You probably will not hear an audible voice, (though I won’t say it can never happen) but if He does have something to say, you will hear it come up from the inside.  Don’t just dismiss.  If you think He might have spoken to your heart, ask Him. . . Lord? Is that you?  You can also ask Him to line your heart up with what He might be saying to you and He will.  Hearing and being led by the Spirit of God is a long time investment.  You have to start right where you are and begin take time learning who He is personally.  Lastly, Psalms 37:4 says to delight yourself in the LORD and then He will give or put into you the desire of your heart.  Spend time thanking God and rejoicing in the fact that He wants you to hear and know that thoughts and plans He is leading you to.  In this way, you will ensure that you enjoy this life and the next.

Pray a prayer like this to receive Jesus as your Lord today: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know you Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him form the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  Thank you, Jesus for Your grace that has saved me from my sin and has given me eternal life.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide and empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: John 10:1-16

The “ride” of life

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalms 118:24

For the next five days, I am going to take a detour from going through some of the new testament books.  I will continue with 1 John next week.  However, I want to spend the next 5 doses on a message I am preparing for next gen students and young adults.  It has 5 points, so I will talk about one point each day.

Point #1                                                Enjoy today

With all the pressure and fast pace of life, it can be so easy for people to get caught up in activities and responsibilities.  Never even considering that enjoying the “ride” of life may need to be part of a daily plan. It can be so easy to be swept away in the pressures of becoming successful, that taking time to enjoy life can be of low priority.  I’m not talking about taking vacations and getting away from the hubbub of daily living.  I’m talking about enjoying live right in the middle of it.  What would it look like if you enjoyed your life when you went to work each day.  What would if be like if you enjoyed coming home to your family each evening.   I’m sure you don’t have the perfect job or family, nobody does because there is no such thing as the perfect job or family.  The point is, you can still enjoy the life God has given you even without the most expensive things, most current technology or perfect friends and family.  Life is most often enjoyed in the simple things.  Today verse says that we can enjoy today simply because God made it!  How wonderful that is, yet how often do we actually consider that “today I can enjoy my life”.  You have heard the old saying to take time to smell the roses and how true it is.  It seems that we have entered an age where we have to purposefully stop and set time aside to enjoy life before it slips away right through our fingertips.

The Psalmist goes on to say in verse 29 of this chapter to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.  A thankful heart is also not only good, but a requirement for enjoying life. To look around and recognize the hand of God not only in the world, but in your life personally will produce joy and thankfulness.  On days when it seems like there is no time to enjoy it, spend a minute being thankful.

Today’s scripture reading is in Philippians 4.  It encourages us to rejoice all the time.  It means to be thankful, kind and gentle.  Not anxious or worried about where life is going, but committing all to the LORD and trusting Him to handle it all.  Then the peace of God comes and will guard against anything trying to steal your joy from you. 

The bottom line is that when you trust the LORD, you will find it easier to enjoy your days.  This life flies by so fast.  In fact James 4:14 says our life is as a vapor that is here for a little while then vanishes away.  It’s like steam or smoke.  Now you see it, now you don’t.  Even if you haven’t discovered the brevity of life yet, make the decision to enjoy your days now.  If you do, when you get to the end of your time here in this world, you will look back and say . . . Wow!  I really enjoyed living this life!!

Today I want to encourage you to make a plan now to remind yourself each day to enjoy it.  We make plans our whole life of what we will do each day.  Whether its work, play or make more plans, make sure to begin each day with the plan to be glad in it, be thankful in it and rejoice in it.  Even when you are in the middle of storms and troubles remember, your plan is to enjoy life.  Not by accumulating things and experiences, although they can be part of it.  The main thing is that your heart is trusting in the LORD and rejoice because you know He is helping you to enjoy each day that you are on this planet.

Today’s scripture reading: Philippians 4:4-9

Grow in grace

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

Peter closes his letter by encouraging the believers to grow.  Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Savior Christ Jesus.  This is good advice and the same thing that we need to be doing today as we are at the end of this age. 

So how do we grow in grace?  Grace defined in today’s words would be courteous, kind and polite.  A gracious person is humble and generous with their space, time and resources.  Grace is also used in handling things.  If you handle something gracefully, it is smooth, tastefully, and with fineness.  We can also talk about the opposite of grace to come up with a picture of what grace is not.  It is not crude, vulgar and grotesque. If you handle something ungracefully, you are clumsy, inept and awkward.  The kind of grace we want to grow in is the God kind of grace.  We can find it defined in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that says God makes all grace available to you so you have all you need for all occasions in abundance for every good work.  So to grow in grace would be to grow in God’s good work each day.  By taking every opportunity to help and be generous to others so that they can see the love of God in your actions.  God has the supply to empower you to do this and gives it to you abundantly.

Next, grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.  This is easier.  The way to get to know Jesus better is to talk to Him and read about Him in the Word of God.  By spending time with the LORD, you grow in knowing Him.  Your relationship with Him is like any relationship in that you grow closer as you spend time with Him.  If you want to be closer to God, spend more time with Him.  Read about Him and talk to Him about what you read.  Ask Him to make Himself known to you in new ways each day.  The aspects of Christ Jesus and God the Father are eternal, so you could learn something new about them each day and never exhaust the newness.

Today I want to encourage you to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus.  Start by praying for God’s grace to be on you to accomplish the good plans He has for you to walk out each day.  Pray for boldness to share the love of God with others and be on the look out for opportunities to bless others.  You can start by praying for others.  Pray that God would prepare hearts ahead of time so that when you get there, they are waiting for the grace you have to share with them.  Spend time with God in the morning to start your day, then throughout the day as you have opportunity to, talk to Him, or sing a praise song or meditate on a scripture you read that morning.  Grow in the knowledge of Him by growing closer and walking out His purpose!  This is your calling for these last days.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Peter 3:14-18

Keep overcoming                     

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

This is a great promise and definitely something we are looking forward to.  The promise of a new heaven and earth where everything is right.  However, as we talked about yesterday, even though the time is getting closer every day, His return will be at the exact planned moment when all things are fulfilled for this age.  It is easy to get caught up in the escape mentality, especially as we see things getting darker around us.  LORD!  Please come get us now!!  This is not what His plan is for us to be doing.  Yes!   Thank God we will be able to escape the judgements to come, but until that time comes, God’s grace is sufficient to get us through any trouble we face right now.

It’s no secret that we are in perilous times (see 2 Timothy 3:1-9).  There is more to come and we should not only be ready for it, we should not be surprised.  Jesus said it will look like the days of Noah in Matthew 24, but God got him through, and he will do the same for us.  We are to walk out these final days with confidence in our LORD, that He will bring us through every struggle, He will take us through every fire and He will continue to do what He has always done and that is empower us to overcome!

Today I want to encourage you in these last days to not be overcome and discouraged by the darkness.  Continue to shine the light wherever you are and keep overcoming all the fires that come at you each day.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to those who are searching and pray for His strength to grow in you each day!  Become bold like the apostles were and do not be afraid.  Spread the good news and stop looking at the bad news.  There are no surprises to God, and He has everything well in hand.  Don’t worry about when the time will come, just be ready for it at all times.  Make the most of all your moments, because His return can happen today!

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Peter 3:10-13

Not willing that any should perish

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

I like the way this verse is phrased in the New Living Translation.  It says: The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but He wants everyone to repent. 

Apparently, Peter was getting a lot of questions about when Jesus would return for His people.  He explains that the LORD is not procrastination or forgetting about the promise He made to return.  He is being patient for our sakes.  It’s not His will that anyone should perish, but His will is that all people would come to repentance.  This is good news for us today on many levels.  First of all, if He had returned after He ascended, we would not be here to be a part of His return.  Second, there is still hope for our loved ones and those we care about to come to know Him personally.  Lastly, the prophecies of the old testament would not have been fulfilled.  Many of God’s promises to His people have been accomplished since the time Peter wrote this letter and the scripture plainly says that He will not come until all is completed.  Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5: For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

So many things happening in the world today are pointing to His soon return.  We do not know when, but we do know the time is near, closer today than ever before.  This doesn’t mean that we just sit back and wait.  Even if it looks like all things have been fulfilled, God is still moving.  Nothing has changed in regard to our purpose either.  Jesus told us to go and make disciples and we know it is God’s will for all to come to repentance, so our job is to tell all people how to do that.  Introduce everyone around you to Him and tell of His goodness wherever you go.  While there is still time, He will still save.

Today I want to encourage you to share the love of God with someone who may be needing to hear some good news.  You don’t have to look far to see lost and hurting people.  Extend your hand and offer hope to those who are feeling hopeless.  Show the love and compassion of God to those who need a help.  Walk closely through life with those who stumble and can’t yet stand on their feet and make these last days of our time on earth to count for all eternity!

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Peter 3:1-9

A warning

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  2 Peter 2:20

This portion of 2 Peter 2 is a warning to all believers about the deception of false teachers.  Peter gives us some characteristics to watch out for so we don’t fall into their deceptions.  You may be thinking that you got this all figured out and you are too close to God to be deceived, but it is good to be on the look out for deceivers and know how to help others not to fall into their traps.  Below is the list of attributes to identify someone who would lead others astray.

They speak evil of the things they do not understand.                                                     They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight.                                                  They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.               They commit adultery with their eyes                                                                                     Their desire for sin is never satisfied                                                                                 They lure unstable people into sin                                                            They are well trained in greed                                                                                They have wandered off the right road                                                                        They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting                         They have an appeal for twisted sexual desire                                                            They lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception

If you study this list closely you will notice that many of the traits listed here are what is in the heart of a person and can easily be hidden.  Therefore, there could be someone setting right next to you and you not even realize the secrets they hold.  Always be ready to help those around you that may not be able to see through such deceptions and ask the LORD to expose anyone around you that may be trying to deceive you.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all check your own heart.  Is there anyone you are giving attention to that may have ulterior motives for your life?  Second, be aware of those closest to you and the secrets of their heart.  Lastly, look out for those around you who may not be able to see through deception and take hold together of life with them.  Don’t just tell them what they may be doing wrong and what they should be doing instead, come along side them, pray with them, love them and help them to overcome.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Peter 2:12-22

Grow through

If the Lord Yahweh rescued Lot, he knows how to continually rescue the godly from their trials,  2 Peter 2:9

This passage makes me think about my own life and how God has been so faithful to rescue me throughout the course of my life!  I depend on that faithfulness to bail me out even today.  When I get into trouble whether it’s my own fault or not, if I call to Him, He comes running to rescue me.  As I look at this passage, I recognize that my troubles are so miniscule compared to Noah’s and Lot’s.  Noah was in a world of constant turmoil.  I’m sure he was always on guard against evil.  It was not so subtle as it feels like it is today.  Lot was oppressed by filthy conduct.  He was trapped.  I have often thought of Lot to be in a self-induced predicament.  However, that didn’t matter to God.  When one of His people needs help, God comes rushing in. 

God is so compassionate, He knows we are going to get ourselves into trouble from time to time, but because He wants the best for us, He always comes to get us out.  That doesn’t mean it will always look like we think it should.  Most of the time God makes a way for us to grow through our struggle so we never have to go through the same thing again.  If you find yourself going through the same struggles continually, maybe its time to step back and ask yourself how to get beyond.  Ask your Heavenly Father how to grow through the issue so you don’t have to repeat it again.  Life is a test, and if you fail your tests, you will repeat them until you pass.  It’s how we get stuck in the “ruts” in life, but praise God we don’t have to stay there.  There is a way out!

Today I want to encourage you that no matter what your trouble is, call out to your Heavenly Father!  He will rush into rescue you.  Even if you have gotten yourself into a predicament and may be deserving of the consequences, that doesn’t matter to God.  He wants the best for you and will help you through and bring you out to victory every time.  Thank Him for His faithfulness and ask Him to show you the path out of the mess you have gotten into.  Then learn from the struggle so you never have to go through it again.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Peter 2:1-11