Amazing Grace

Word For Today by UCB Media

'Do it with the strength God provides.' 1 Peter 4:11

William Wilberforce grew up as a child of privilege, attending Cambridge University. Two weeks after his twenty-first birthday he was elected to Parliament where he became a brilliant orator and politician. Then he met John Newton, author of the hymn 'Amazing Grace.' A former slave ship captain, Newton had found Christ, repented of his old life and become a minister. Upon meeting Newton, seeds were sown in Wilberforce's heart that were destined to change history. In 1787, Wilberforce initiated a campaign to make Great Britain aware of the atrocities of slavery and vote for its abolition. It was a fierce fight. Besides politicians and industrialists, religious leaders who had their own slaves opposed him. From his deathbed John Wesley wrote to Wilberforce: 'If God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O, be not weary in well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.' Wilberforce persevered because he knew what was at stake: the lives of millions of people. Finally, on February 23, 1807, the Slave Trade Act outlawing traffic in slaves was passed in the House of Commons by a vote of 283 to 16. Twenty-six years later, near the end of Wilberforce's life, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire. Shortly thereafter, it was abolished in the United States. How did it happen? Because one man decided to live by the principle, '...through love serve one another' (Galatians 5:13 NKJV).

The First Too….

The first to apologise is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.

A Valley Full of Bones!

"Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something we shall fall for anything." —Peter Marshall

There is nothing like a vivid word picture to drive home the life-changing truth of the Gospel. Right after God promised that He would give us new hearts and fill us with His Spirit, He gave Ezekiel a strange vision to bring this spiritual truth visually alive.

A valley full of bones—piles of them, dry and dead. Then God gives words to the prophet to speak over the bones before them:

"I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord." —Ezekiel 37:5-6

Ezekiel spoke as commanded and tendons, flesh, and skin appeared on the bones. Then God told Ezekiel to speak again over the lifeless corpses:

"Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'" So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army. —Ezekiel 37:9-10

What a picture! Is there any question why Paul would include the Gospel of peace as a critical element of spiritual armor? Is there any question why Satan would want to get us to minimalize this aspect of the Good News?

You get the picture: a vast army, once dead, now being brought to life… a vision of the new covenant where we are given a new heart, we become a new creation, and God in His infinite grace places Himself, by His Spirit, into us so that we can enjoy the presence of Him forever.

This, my friends, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the truth that Paul tells us to stand firm upon.

Dear God, will You give me a clear picture of this vision as well? Open my eyes! Allow me to see that we are a vast army of formerly dead bones, brought to life through forgiveness and the filling of the Holy Spirit, now strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, protected by the full armor of God, taking our stand against the devil's schemes. Amen.

More than just an instantaneous conversion

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion; it is like a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.

Billy Graham

Why do they say Amen?

Q: Why do they say 'Amen' at the end of a prayer instead of 'Awomen'?
A: The same reason they sing Hymns instead of Hers!

Don't let anyone look down on you

Word For Today by UCB Media

'Don't let anyone look down on you.' 1 Timothy 4:12

You shouldn't be overlooked because of your age, your gender, your nationality, your education or your financial status. People will try to put you down, but if you trust God He will lift you up. Timothy started preaching in his teens. He became Paul's travelling companion, which was no small honour. But in those days society said you didn't come into maturity until you were thirty, therefore Timothy wasn't qualified for leadership. Since Timothy was facing criticism, Paul wrote, 'Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young.' With God it's not the length of your life that qualifies you, but the depth of it. Look at Timothy's credentials: 'From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures' (2Timothy 3:15 NKJV). Timothy was nurtured in God's Word and grounded in the truth. 'When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also' (2Timothy 1:5 NKJV). So Paul writes to the Philippian church and says: 'I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly...For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel' (Philippians 2:19-22 NKJV). The right to work in God's service is not determined by your years on earth, but by your experience with God, your growth in grace and in His Word.

Conquer evil by doing good

Word For Today by UCB Media

'Conquer evil by doing good.' Romans 12:21

It's easy to forget why God saved you, what He's called you to do, and how you're supposed to live. So here's a memo from heaven: 'Don't just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honouring each other. Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out. If someone mistreats you, pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don't try to act big. Don't try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone will see you are honest clear through. Don't quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it. Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be heaping coals of fire on his head. In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don't let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good' (v. 9-21 TLB).