December's Daily Encouragement

The Word For You Today

Time to clean house! - December 31

December 31, 2018 • Bob Gass

In Scotland, they have a New Year’s tradition that involves cleaning out your house, dumping the old ashes from your fireplace, and paying off your outstanding debts. It’s about clearing out the old to make room for the new. And from time to time you must clean your spiritual house too. The Bible says, “Carry out the rubbish.” Why? Because over time wrong attitudes, shoddy workmanship, and bad habits creep in and blind us to what’s important. Sheila Coleman wrote, “Ten years ago I cleaned house from top to bottom. I dusted every nook and cranny…scrubbed the bath and every sink until they shone. I even took a toothbrush to the grout in the kitchen. That house had never been so clean. And today—ten years later…it’s still clean. I’ve never had to pick up another duster…vacuum…or wash the kitchen counter…and my house looks as clean as it did that day, right? WRONG! We continually need spiritual housecleaning because we live in a dirty world. Just as our homes…cars and clothes have to be maintained…our hearts—our spiritual homes—need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Not once a week or once a month, and certainly not once every ten years, or once in a lifetime. We need to let God have His way in us every day, to clean us up and renew us…Is there a room in your ‘house’ you haven’t allowed Him to clean? If it’s been a while since God did a thorough heart cleaning, make this your prayer: ‘Lord, clean my heart so You can live and shine through me.’”

What this test is about - December 30

December 30, 2018 • Bob Gass

The tests we face reveal both our weaknesses and our strengths. When the Bible speaks of “a refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3:2), we’re inclined to think of the negative things God wants to remove from our character. But we also have inner strengths and gifts that need to be refined but we’re not aware of them because a demand hasn’t been placed on them. In 1 Kings 17, when the widow and her son met Elijah, there was a famine in the land and he asked her to share their last meal with him. Maybe you’re thinking, “Typical preacher!” Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions! One of the best days in this woman’s life was when God placed a demand on her faith. Her response changed her future and saved her family. So when you’re faced with a need, how do you respond? Do you withdraw? Withhold? Give from a sense of obligation? Or do you see it as an opportunity to obey God and change your future? You can actually give your way out of trouble! (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-11.) When God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “The king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him” (Exodus 3:19 NIV). And today God may be permitting the enemy to test you in order to reveal: (1) how much He cares for you; (2) how you’ll act when your back’s against the wall; or (3) who you’ll believe when God says, “I will bring you out with a mighty hand” and the enemy is saying, “I won’t let you go.” That’s what this test is about.

Don’t lose your passion - December 29

December 29, 2018 • Bob Gass

Concerning Jesus, the Bible says, “Because he never lost sight of where he was headed…he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever…When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again” (vv. 2-3 TM). It’s your vision that fuels your passion. Ever notice how God often transforms the worst of sinners into His greatest servants? That’s because they’re passionate, and once that passion is harnessed and redirected, they become effective in His kingdom. Now you understand why the enemy has tried so hard to destroy you. He knows once you line up your passion with God’s plan, there will be no stopping you. Passion is spiritual energy; without it you’re as limp as a wet noodle and as bland as hospital food. So instead of trying to stifle your passion, let God redirect it. Jesus told the end-age church, “You are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!” (Revelation 3:15 NLT). Who is He speaking to? Professing Christians who live, marry, have children, buy cars, accumulate stocks, and do all the things their modern-day counterparts do, but without passion. They were simply going through the motions! The Bible says, “Taste and see” (Psalm 34:8); in other words, step up to the plate and swing the bat! So what if you miss? The fact is you’ll miss for sure if you don’t swing! Your instinct for self-preservation can rob you of the only chance you may ever get at life. So if you’re down today, get back up. If you failed, try again. Ask God to rekindle the fires of passion within you.

Get up and try again - December 28

December 28, 2018 • Bob Gass

To succeed in life you need two things: (1) The right people. Sometimes the first step toward getting out of discouragement is finding somebody who can lift you. Don’t be like the guy who was about to jump off a bridge when a policeman approached him and said, “Surely nothing could be that bad. Tell me about it.” When the guy got through talking—they both jumped! You may smile, but the company you keep will either lift you up or pull you down. Paul wrote, “God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:6 NIV). You need a Titus in your life, and you need to become a Titus to others. The Bible says, “Bear…one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). (2) The right perspective. Over half of all salespeople fail because they don’t go back a second or third time. About 58 percent make one call and stop. Twenty-five percent make two calls and stop. Fifteen percent make three calls and stop. The 12 percent who go back again and again and again make 80 percent of all sales. That’s the group you belong in. Don’t settle for failure; get up and try again! God will work with you (see Philippians 1:6). Missionary and theologian E. Stanley Jones said, “When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.” Refuse to accept defeat. Remember, you’ll be rewarded for what you finished, not for what you started. Sometimes the last key on the ring is the one that opens the door, so ask God for the strength to keep persevering until you win!

Look for a true friend - December 27

December 27, 2018 • Bob Gass

One day two cows looked over a fence and saw these words on a passing milk truck: “Pasteurized, Homogenized, Vitamin A added.” One cow said to the other, “It makes you feel a bit inadequate, doesn’t it?” Seriously, is that how you feel today? There’s too much to do and not enough of you to do it? Or you don’t think you have the skill or resources? Remember the old Beatles song: “When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way…Help me if you can, I’m feeling down, and I do appreciate you being round. Help me get my feet back on the ground; won’t you please, please help me?” In a perfect world, Adam still couldn’t make it by himself, so God said, “I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18 NIV). Sometimes the solution requires more than prayer or counselling; it requires a friend who understands—especially one who has fought the same battles and won. In Acts 3, God used Peter and John to bring about the healing of a lame man sitting at the temple gate. But there was another miracle earlier that day. Peter had just denied Jesus, fallen flat on his face, and decided to return to his old fishing job. But John refused to let go of him. As a result, Peter was restored, a lame man was healed, and 3,000 people were won to Christ. You don’t need a lot of people in your life; you just need the right people. So ask God for a “true friend” who will stick by you; then you do the same for someone else.

Spirit friends - December 26

December 26, 2018 • Bob Gass

Here’s an interesting chapter in the Christmas story—one that teaches us about “spirit friends.” The Bible says, “A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea… She entered into the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth… exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed…Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home” (vv. 39-42, 56 NLT). Besides being cousins, Mary and Elizabeth were “spirit friends.” They didn’t just connect socially, they connected spiritually at a deeper level. That’s why Mary “hurried” to see Elizabeth and why she spent three months with her. It’s also why Elizabeth confirmed the miraculous purposes of God that were being fulfilled in Mary’s life and commended her for her obedience. When God introduces you to someone who has been touched by His Spirit and carries within them a vision that’s conceived by the Holy Spirit, reach out to them, treasure them, and build a relationship with them. The connection between these two women didn’t take place because they were part of the same family. The truth is, sometimes our families are the first to criticize us and the last to understand us. Notice, when Mary greeted Elizabeth, the unborn child within her leaped in her womb. How do you recognize a “spirit friend”? When they speak, something within you will resonate. That’s because you are both filled with the same Holy Spirit and empowered to do God’s will.

God will make it happen - December 25

December 25, 2018 • Bob Gass

The Bible says, “Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin.’ The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’” (vv. 34-35 NLT). Has God been telling you things He wants to do through you, but you’re looking at yourself and thinking, “How can this happen?” You’re saying, “I don’t have the training, the resources, the skill, or the connections. And I certainly don’t have the strength to accomplish it alone.” If you’re wondering how God will bring it all to pass, remember that He will accomplish it! No one else will get the credit. How will it happen? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (v. 35 NLT). The Holy Spirit can impregnate you with a vision, inspire you with creative ideas, introduce you to the right people, and empower you to do the job. God had a unique plan for Mary, and He has one for you too. You aren’t privileged to see the future, and you don’t know all that God has in store for you. But He has a plan. Notice what Mary said after the angel spoke to her: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (v. 38). Not according to your social status or your job résumé or your finances or what you deserve. No, “Be it unto me according to thy word!” Was that easy to say or believe? No, she was taking an extreme risk. Being pregnant and unmarried brought dire consequences in those days. Yet she gave herself willingly to God—and the results were miraculous. And God can do the same for you.

The real story of Christmas - December 24

December 24, 2018 • Bob Gass

To fully appreciate the story of Christmas, you must look at three things: (1) Who God called to tell the story. Shepherds! In first-century Palestine, they were considered to be the lowest in society. Yet God picked them to tell the greatest story. Perhaps that’s because some of us would have debated the story or even denied it. Not them: “They spread the word” (v. 17 NIV). This answers the question, “Could God use someone like me?” Yes, you don’t need to be a scholar. Just tell people what you’ve seen and heard and the change Jesus has made in your life. (2) The response of those who heard the story. “All who heard it were amazed.” The grace of God is amazing: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV). The gospel is not good advice, it’s good news! Your sin debt is cancelled, your books are reconciled, and now you can have a personal relationship with God by putting your trust in Christ. It doesn’t get any better! (3) Mary’s part in the story. “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19 NIV). She wanted to understand what God was doing and how it related to her. And you need to do that too. God doesn’t change, but He moves, and you have to stay in step with Him. There were many things Mary didn’t understand about God’s will, but she accepted and obeyed it. And that’s what God is asking of you too.

Trust God’s unchanging character - December 23

December 23, 2018 • Bob Gass

Sometimes you will not sense God’s presence. Those are difficult times. In the midst of trouble, Job said, “If I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him” (vv. 8-9 NIV). Job felt far from God. Yet in spite of his inability to feel God, he resolved, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (v. 10 NIV). Difficult days demand decisions of faith. David said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3 NIV). When you can’t understand the ways of God, trust in the unchanging and loving character of God. Go through your Bible and make a list of the character qualities of God, and keep them on hand for tough days. One author wrote, “My list reads like this: ‘He is still sovereign. He still knows my name. Angels still respond to His call. The hearts of rulers still yield at His bidding. The death of Jesus still saves souls. The Spirit of God still indwells saints. Heaven is still only heartbeats away. The grave is still temporary housing. God is still faithful. He is not caught off guard. He uses everything for His glory and my ultimate good. He uses tragedy to accomplish His will, and His will is right, holy, and perfect. Sorrow may come with the night, but joy comes with the morning.’” In changing times, stand confidently on the unchanging character of God.

You’ll get back more than you give - December 22

December 22, 2018 • Bob Gass

In a sense, it’s impossible to “sacrifice” anything for God. If we get back more than we gave up, have we sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. On Judgment Day, our only regret will be whatever we didn’t give back to God. It may seem counterintuitive, but the key to self-fulfillment is self-denial. The selfish part of us has an allergic reaction to the word deny. It’s tough to do when we live in the lap of luxury. We don’t just tolerate indulgence in our culture, we celebrate it. But the fundamental problem with indulgence is that enough is never enough. The more we indulge ourselves in food or sex or the amenities of wealth, the less we will enjoy them. We have bought into the consumerist lie that more is more. We mistakenly think the more we give, the less we’ll have. But our logic is backward. We ultimately lose what we keep, and we ultimately keep whatever we lose for the cause of Christ. Author Mark Batterson wrote, “The more you give away, the more you will enjoy what you have. If you give God the tithe, you’ll enjoy the 90 percent you keep 10 percent more. You’ll also discover that God can do more with 90 percent than you can with 100 percent…One of our life goals as a family is to reverse tithe and live off 10 percent while giving away 90 percent. When we get there, I’m confident we’ll enjoy the 10 percent we keep 90 percent more. It’s the sliding scale of joy.”

Ask God to use you - December 21

December 21, 2018 • Bob Gass

Lydia wasn’t a preacher, she was a successful businesswoman won to Christ under Paul’s ministry. As a result, her home became the first church building named in Scripture where believers met. Get rid of the idea that only preachers speak for God. Out of 168 hours in each week, preachers generally get to speak to people only one hour. Who’s going to speak for God the other 167 hours? India has over a billion people, and there’s an interesting story of how the gospel first reached the Telugu region. It wasn’t through a preacher, but a civil engineer called John Clough, who offered to go to a newly established mission and help them. The missionary board had misgivings because he hadn’t been to a seminary, but they admired his zeal so they authorized the trip. During a great famine, Clough supervised the digging of the Buckingham Canal. His position enabled him to hire thousands of hungry people, which meant they could earn wages and buy food. But something even more important happened. As a result, God opened the hearts of multitudes to receive His Word for the first time, and today the church is thriving in India. God says, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass” (Isaiah 46:10 NLT). God already has a plan; what He’s looking for are workers willing to help fulfill it. And you can be one of them.

Leader, here’s God’s way - December 20

December 20, 2018 • Bob Gass

Why do we insist on doing everything ourselves? Three reasons: (1) We’re afraid others won’t do the job as well as we do—but how else are they going to learn? (2) We’re afraid they will outshine us. The Bible says, “In honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). (3) We think God expects us personally to do it all. Moses’ father-in-law told him, “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice…You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him…But select capable men from all the people…and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:19-23 NIV). So evaluate what only you can do, and delegate what others can do. If the job’s too big for you, take it as a sign that God is telling you, “Don’t try it alone!” That doesn’t mean dump the work on just anybody. If you pair the wrong person with a job that makes no sense to them, disaster will ensue. You must: (1) find the right person; (2) give them the right job; and (3) trust them to do the right thing. Do those three things and you’ll live long enough to enjoy the fruits of your success.

Giant killers (4) - December 19

December 19, 2018 • Bob Gass

David prevailed because he understood the power of past successes. He told King Saul, “The Lord who rescued me from the…lion and the bear will rescue me from [the giant].” Observe: (1) Giant killers build on past successes. A series of successes builds your momentum and allows you to find the mix of “God-confidence” and “self-confidence” necessary to make you unstoppable. 2 Samuel 3:1 says, “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker” (NKJV). David understood that every time you put a win on the board or an enemy under your feet, your confidence in God and yourself grows. So replay your past victories and trust the God who did it before to do it again. (2) Giant killers create their own style. David couldn’t wear Saul’s armour—and you can’t operate in someone else’s gift. You have your own weapon, your own armour, and your own style. You are uniquely equipped to conquer your giant. David conquered Goliath with a slingshot. Moses parted the Red Sea with a shepherd’s staff. Paul conquered disease and demonic oppression with a handkerchief. For Simon Peter, power over sickness was released through his shadow, and many times, Jesus simply “spoke the word.” Resist the urge to “wear Saul’s armour” and quietly wear the wardrobe that God has given you. Stay in your gifting. Stay in your anointing. Stay in your assignment. This winning combination of building on past successes and creating your own style leaves you exuding confidence and creativity, two of a giant killer’s secret weapons.

Giant killers (3) - December 18

December 18, 2018 • Bob Gass

In David’s day, they fought “by representation.” One man would fight for the nation as a whole, and the country of the losing warrior became subservient to the country of the conquering warrior. The upside is obvious, isn’t it? Everybody didn’t have to die! So David versus Goliath was really Israel against the Philistines. It was a one-on-one contest—winner take all. We’re familiar with David’s victory over the giant with faith, a stone, and a slingshot. Yet Scripture tells us he picked up not one, but “five smooth stones.” Why? It wasn’t a lack of faith—he knew that Goliath had four brothers. Observe: (1) Giant killers realize that their giant represents greater issues. A giant never stands alone; behind him lie his causes. Overeating, addiction, abuse, and anger are all driven and supported by other issues. Somewhere behind the obvious giant are his supportive brothers—pain, guilt, loss, and shame. David was prepared with five stones—one for Goliath and one for each of his four brothers. What lies behind your giant? With God’s help, you can conquer both the giant and his support team. (2) Giant killers are not overwhelmed by the challenges. Never allow your fears to overwhelm your faith. The Bible says that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Fear will feed on the failures of the past, but you can’t allow yesterday’s failure to overwhelm today’s faith. So take your failings, list them on a piece of paper, and boldly print at the top of the page: “Things I don’t need to try again! Lesson learned.”

Giant killers (2) - December 17

December 17, 2018 • Bob Gass

Observe: (1) Giant killers don’t start out as giant killers! David was a meek musician, humble shepherd, and overlooked son. Faithfulness was his advantage—faithfulness in his talent, faithfulness with his father’s sheep, faithfulness to God. By becoming master over the small things, he became master over the large things. Faithfulness is a common characteristic of uncommon spiritual achievers. Matthew started as a tax collector; Peter as a fisherman; Elisha as a farmer; Jesus as a carpenter. Have you ever considered that Jesus spent more years as a carpenter than He did as a preacher? He was faithful in little things. God never called an inactive or nonproductive person. Every candidate had started something before they became a giant killer. Giant killers don’t start out as giant killers…but giant killers start! (2) Giant killers know that the reward is always greater than the risk! Life rewards risk and action, but Satan will whisper words of fear and anxiety in your ears to minimize the reward and magnify the risk. Yet the truth remains that “God is a rewarder” of diligent seekers (see Hebrews 11:6). You must believe the promise is greater than the problem, the objective is greater than the objections, and God is greater than your giant. The belief that “God is greater” is the essence of a faith that persists in the face of fear. Fear is Satan’s weapon to paralyze you; faith is God’s weapon to mobilize you. So depend on God, challenge the giant, and join the ranks of God’s giant killers.