UCB Word For Today

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CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED DAILY

With daily readings based on Scripture, articles, and things to pray about, the UCB Word For Today is designed to help you get into the habit of spending time with God every day.

21H AGO

Share what you have

Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, prepared for missionary service by working among the poor in London. One night, a man asked him to come and pray for his sick wife. The man had already asked a priest but had been told he would have to pay him eighteen pence, which he didn’t have. He didn’t even have money to buy a loaf of bread. Taylor went with him but was conscience stricken. He was living on a starvation diet himself, but he did have one coin in his pocket – a half-crown. He thought, ‘If only I had two shillings and sixpence instead of this half crown, I would give these poor people a shilling.’ Upon arriving at the man’s house, he was overcome at seeing the sunken cheeks of hungry children and the exhausted mother who lay with a tiny infant by her side. Taylor spoke to them, trying to bring comfort and encouragement, but inside he cried, ‘You hypocrite! Telling these people about a kind and loving father in heaven, yet not prepared to trust Him without a half-crown.’ So he gave his half-crown to the man. Taylor recalled at that moment how the joy of the Lord came back into his heart. The Bible says, ‘Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ What pleases the Lord? Your willingness to share with those in need what God has graciously given you. The saying is true: ‘You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.’ © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
1D AGO

Resist envy

Some folks are too insecure to applaud the success or achievements of another, be it a co-worker, distant relative, sibling, spouse, or even a child. They feel that they must have comparable success, so they won’t feel inferior. If they can indeed claim a similar personal achievement, then they are quick to mention it. The truth is that someone will always have more success than you do, and someone will always have less. It takes daily, conscientious effort to fight discontentment and to enjoy whatever level of success God has blessed you with. Television commercials and roadside billboards and even well-meaning family and friends send the message: ‘You’re lacking something. Buy this, buy that!’ Solomon said, ‘Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil’ (Proverbs 15:16 NIV). Hebrews13:5 says, ‘Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”’ (NIV). If you find yourself feeling the need to compete when a compliment is given to another, immediately recognise and renounce the spirit of insecurity that’s trying to ensnare you. Begin to reject this kind of behaviour by responding in the opposite manner. Practise being secure enough to enjoy someone else’s achievements. You will have to ‘practise’ this, because there’s a good chance that you will not ‘feel’ secure initially. Just do it. Allow your faith to dictate your behaviour. When you obey the Spirit and allow Him to determine your actions, the flesh grows weaker and must ultimately submit to the control of the Spirit. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
2D AGO

Healing when you’ve been hurt

There are times when we all experience rejection, betrayal, and disappointment. But if we hold on to those experiences, we can remain in a state of perpetual hurt. Indeed, when we refuse to forgive and move on, we place a weapon into Satan’s hands that he will use against us at every opportunity. It’s not what has happened to us, but how we respond that matters. If we allow the hurt to gain control of our thoughts, it can undermine our emotional wellbeing. Jesus doesn’t want us to go through life carrying old wounds; He wants to heal us. This is why He gave us the precious promises in His Word. Regardless of how badly we’ve been hurt, God always has our complete restoration in mind. ‘“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the LORD’ (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV). If you have spent years wrestling with unresolved hurt, God has provided a way out. ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’ When He was on earth, Jesus was constantly healing people’s pain and comforting them in their sorrow. And when He left earth, He didn’t leave us high and dry. He sent the eternal source of comfort to live inside of each of us – the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, helper, and friend (see John 14:16). The hurts you’ve experienced are real, but God doesn’t want them to be your greatest reality. His Spirit is always with you and will never leave you (see Hebrews 13:5). And you can draw from His strength through every painful circumstance and find healing when you’ve been hurt. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
3D AGO

Pray for a divine visitation

Jesus told the disciples just before He left this earth to return to heaven: ‘I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49 KJV). As a redeemed child of God the Holy Spirit lives in you (see Romans 8:9). But this promise indicates that you can also have the Holy Spirit resting upon you and empowering you. How did the disciples respond to this promise? ‘All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer’ (Acts 1:14 ESV). Author Larry Sparks says, ‘For too long, the Western church has tolerated a prayer culture defined by lack of results.’ Then he gives us this strategy for a divine visitation: ‘Review God’s promises for a Holy Spirit outpouring. Become possessed by them. And “tarry” in devoted, sustained, persevering prayer until revival promises become revival realities. That’s exactly what the disciples did.’ We make the mistake of assuming that outpourings of the Holy Spirit are sovereignly fixed dates in heaven’s calendar. One of the great promises God made to us is this: ‘In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh’ (Acts 2:17 ESV). As long as ‘all flesh’ has not experienced this outpouring of God’s Spirit, we must continue to pray, ‘Oh, that You would rend the heavens [and] come down!’ You say, ‘What can I do?’ Do what the disciples did: ‘All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.’ Begin to pray each day for a divine visitation of God’s Spirit. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
4D AGO

Show your appreciation

Paul takes one entire chapter in the book of Romans to name the people who helped him and to express his appreciation for them. Showing that you care about people beyond what they can do for you lets them know you truly care about them. Sincere praise can energise others and cause them to spring up like wilted flowers that have just been watered. Oh, the dividends that a husband or a wife (or anyone else) would reap from expressing appreciation for the little things. Just in case your gratitude muscle has grown weak, and you take most kindnesses and efforts for granted, read the following list of tasks and responsibilities that you should show appreciation for: Cleaning the house. Preparing meals. Paying the bills. Going to work. Spending wisely. Buying groceries. Washing and folding the clothes. Bathing the kids. Taking out the rubbish. Filling the car with fuel. Being on time. Watering the grass or plants. Sending out Christmas and special-occasion cards. Selecting family birthday presents. Supporting your career. Being accountable. Listening. The list could go on and on. Why not set a goal of appreciating at least one thing per day for a particular person in your life? If you are a man, don’t be so insecure that you fear you will appear weak if you start to notice the little things. It takes a real man to look beyond his needs and recognise the efforts of another. When you are secure in your own identity, you are able to give people more power by keeping them informed, trusting them, caring about them, and appreciating them. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
5D AGO

Live by the principles of God’s Word

Entering the Promised Land, God told Joshua: ‘Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses.’ You must identify your core values – and live by them. Swiss philosopher Henri-Frederic Amiel said, ‘The man who has no inner life is a slave to his surroundings.’ Your core values are the governing principles you live by. They’re the light that guides you. They give stability and structure to your inner world. When that’s in order, you can navigate your way through almost anything. Have you ever wondered why God refers to His Word as ‘laws’? Because they govern your thoughts and actions, guide you in the right direction, and guard you from trouble. They bring order to your life; without that, you’re left with chaos and confusion. Imagine living in a world where 100 centimetres don’t equal a metre, and two plus two doesn’t make four. God established His laws for our good. When we disobey them, we suffer; when we honour them, we succeed. Unlike dining al a carte, you can’t pick what you want and forget the rest. God says, ‘Do everything written…Then you will be…successful’ (Joshua 1:8 NIV). Many talented people who make it into the limelight don’t stay there long. Why? Because they failed to develop strong character. Their lack of integrity toppled them because they couldn’t climb beyond the limitations of their character. Talent may take you to a higher level of success, but without character, you won’t be able to handle the pressures that accompany success. That’s why it’s so important to live by the principles of God’s Word. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
6D AGO

Overcoming the fear of success

The fear of success derails many dreams. Sometimes success brings resentment from those closest to you. Being successful can also create its own anxiety; namely, you fear that you are unable to maintain your success. Then there’s the fear of attracting people who want what you’ve got but are not willing to pay the price you paid to get it. Solomon warned, ‘Wealth attracts many friends’ (Proverbs 19:4 NIV). Then there’s the fear of being bombarded by constant requests for money. What if you say no? You must follow your heart, give as God directs you, and leave your image up to Him. David said, ‘You surround them with your favour as with a shield’ (Psalm 5:12 NIVUK). The favour of God can make you a target. And while you must always try to be fair in your behaviour towards others, you cannot reject the favour God sends your way just to keep others from becoming envious. You must embrace God’s favour as part of your destiny. Perhaps growing up, you were told that you should not expect success. And now that you have it, you may feel that you don’t deserve it and that it won’t last. Indeed, you may find yourself engaging in self-sabotaging behaviour that will confirm your own worst fears and bring them to fruition. What should you do? First, thank God that you understand the root of your problem. Second, talk it out with a good listener. As you hear yourself put the problem in perspective, you may find yourself declaring the words of Solomon: ‘Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.’ © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min
FEB 11

Blessings and cursings; the choice is yours

The Bible says, ‘Joshua built an altar to the LORD…in Mount Ebal…“an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD…Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal…He read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings’ (Joshua 8:30-34 NKJV). There are two important lessons in this otherwise obscure Old Testament story. First, ‘an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool’ speaks of God’s unearned and unmerited grace towards us – no human effort involved. ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast’ (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Second, notice where this altar was built. When Israel listened to Joshua reading the blessings and cursings recorded in the Law of Moses, half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal. Those in front of Mount Gerizim heard him read the blessings, and those in front of Mount Ebal heard him read the cursings. But the altar was not built on Gerizim, the mount of blessings, but on Ebal, the hill of cursing. The message is clear: even when you ‘blow it’, God extends His grace to you. C.S. Lewis said, ‘Obedience is the key that opens every door.’ So even when you fail and disobey God, you can return to the altar of grace at Mount Ebal. It’s built for people like you. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

2 min

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With daily readings based on Scripture, articles, and things to pray about, the UCB Word For Today is designed to help you get into the habit of spending time with God every day.