Social Media Famous

As I meditated on this proverb, I thought about people who are or are trying to be social media famous. They post themselves in ways to get the highest response and number of followers. There are even people who will teach you how to grow your number of followers.

On the surface this seems innocuous, but such a pursuit can take us to a place that can cause us much harm. 

The writer of this proverb warns us that it is better to be a nobody with a servant than to be a somebody with no food.

Sure, having hundreds of thousands of “followers” can seem great but if your message isn’t God honoring, then what are you accomplishing. 

Pursuing fame may get you known but it will not put you in a right relationship with God. Only pursuing Christ first can do that. Any other desire is like trying to catch the wind, useless. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 12:9

9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 9:7-27; Proverbs 12:8-9

A Crisis Of Faith

Imagine someone telling you your child is dead and a person tells you to believe and the child will be healed. That would be a difficult moment. 

Of course you want to believe because you want your child to live. But your life experience tells you that once people die they never come back to life. 

This was what Jairus faced as he stood before Jesus. He had a crisis of faith. “Do I keep the faith and believe or do I follow my life experience and go home to bury my child.”

Which option would you choose? If you’re honest, you would agree that it would be a difficult decision. That was the decision Jairus faced. Fortunately, he had a little help making the decision. He had just witnessed Jesus perform a miracle for the woman with the issue of blood. This experience likely made Jairus’ decision much easier. Was that a coincidence?

When your are faced with a faith crisis, remember all that Jesus has done in and through your life and remain faithful. It’s worth it. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 9:49-50

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Today’s Readings:

Luke 8:40-9:6; Proverbs 12:5-7

Don’t Plead The Fifth

When a person gets on the witness stand to testify about themselves, they always have the option to not self-incriminate. When asked a question they can say, “I plead the fifth.” The person asking the questions must move on from that question. 

When it comes to our testimony about what Christ has done in our lives, don’t plead the fifth. Share your witness freely. 

Christ freed you from an eternity separated from God. Think about that. It is not a small thing. It’s the most important thing. We were all destined for eternal separation, but Jesus stepped in and provided us a way to make amends to God for our disobedience. 

PRAISE GOD!!!

Shout your testimony from the mountain tops for all the people in your sphere of influence to hear. You have no idea who God will save by your testimony. To not share it is the highest level of selfishness. It could be the difference of where someone will spend eternity. 

Don’t plead the fifth! Give your witness freely! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 8:38-39

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 8:22-39; Proverbs 12:4

I Got Arrested

One of the worst and one of the best moments in my life is the exact same moment. At the age of 16 I got arrested for shoplifting. 

Going into that grocery store and stealing candy bars and packs of Kool-aid was not a one off. In fact, my friends and I had stolen from that same store a few hours earlier. We got away with it so we decided to go back and do it again. 

I praise God for that stupid decision! 

WHY?

Because that stupid decision brought what I had been doing for years in the dark into the light. I felt free from the bondage of stealing. I was a thief, but getting caught snapped me out of that life. Your stuff is forever safe with me.

Are you doing something that you know is wrong but you struggle with stopping and telling someone because of the shame that may occur? Think about this, there is no level of shame that is worse than being out of right fellowship with God because we refuse to stop willfully sinning. 

Let that marinate!

A fleeting moment of shame that is surrendered to a perpetual right relationship with God through Jesus Christ is always worth it. Spend time with God today. Ask Him to expose your “hidden” sin. He will and you will be better for it. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 8:16-17

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

Today’s Readings:

Luke 8:4-21; Proverbs 12:2-3

Discipline

Growing up, I always thought discipline meant punishment. My parents would “discipline” me when I did something they told me not to do. As I grew in knowledge, I learned that there is more than one definition for the word discipline. 

This passage highlights the importance of having the discipline to do what’s right. In fact, the writer says that loving discipline equals loving knowledge.

What areas in your life do you lack discipline? I encourage you to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to increase the discipline you exercise in your life. It will be the best decision for your life. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 12:1

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 7:36-8:3; Proverbs 12:1

Inherit The Wind

Many years ago there was a movie that chronicled the well known Scopes Trial. It was about a teacher who dared teach the theory of evolution in a school in Tennessee. I find it fascinating that the title of the movie is named for this passage, which is a line in the script. 

What does it mean to “inherit the wind?” It means that you will get nothing. Unfortunately this metaphor applies to more than just the home. A person who seeks to create trouble or chaos will be “poor” in God’s economy. 

What are your daily motives? How can you ensure that you are placing the needs of others before your own? Spend time in prayer asking God to show you areas in your life where you may be bringing “ruin on your family” then make changes for better. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 11:29

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 7:11-35; Proverbs 11:29-31

Those Who Hear

In this passage in Luke as well as a similar passage in Matthew 7, Jesus is focusing on the people who hear His word. 

Sometimes as Christians, we get too focused on the “non-believer,” and what will happen to them. We need to be aware of how our brothers and sisters in Christ are living so that we may help them when they falter. 

We read in Matthew 18 as well as in James 5:19-20 that believers will have their moments when they step away from following Christ well. It is in those times that we, as their fellow believers, must help them in love. 

If you see a brother or sister in Christ moving from Christ, go to them with “gentleness and respect” just as if you were defending your faith. Be bold in that moment. You will be saving them from a “multitude of sin.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 6:46-49

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Today’s Readings:

Luke 6:39-7:10; Proverbs 11:29

“I’ll Remember That”

In my lifetime I cannot count the number of people who have responded to me, “I’ll remember that” because I did not do something for them or give something to them. This attitude flies in the face of Jesus’ teaching in this passage. 

On the contrary, if someone does something negative to you, you respond in love. This is in keeping with the teachings of Jesus. 

Do you say, “I’ll remember that” when things don’t go your way? I encourage you to stop having that attitude and take on the mind of Christ, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Because of that mindset, God gave Jesus the name that is above every name. If you want the favor of God on your life, live with the mindset of Christ. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 6:12-38; Proverbs 11:27

Religion vs Relationship

In my life, I have met many people who say they believe in God. They go to church faithfully. They tithe. They serve. They even read their Bible and pray. But there’s a line they will not cross. That line is the one that Christ crossed without hesitation. 

Jesus is a relational Messiah. He obliterated the line that separated religion from relationship. As you learn more about Christ, you will see that He always chose relationship over religious tradition. 

What about you? Which is more important to you in your faith walk, religious tradition or relationships? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 6:9-11

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 5:29-6:11; Proverbs 11:24-26

Seek God Not Fame

In today’s “I want to go viral” world, it is easy to get lost in the pursuit of fame or recognition. As you read this passage, you will learn that Jesus sought neither fame nor recognition. He only wanted to do the will of the Father. 

At the height of His ministry, instead of seeking more platforms from which to teach, Luke writes that He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

If Jesus never sought fame or recognition, why do we? Take time out of your day to have a talk with God. Ask Him to show you the desire of your heart. If He reveals that your desire is to be well known, ask Him to help you cast that desire away. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 5:12-16

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone,but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more,so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 5:12-28; Proverbs 11:23Seek God Not Fame

In today’s “I want to go viral” world, it is easy to get lost in the pursuit of fame or recognition. As you read this passage, you will learn that Jesus sought neither fame nor recognition. He only wanted to do the will of the Father. 

At the height of His ministry, instead of seeking more platforms from which to teach, Luke writes that He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

If Jesus never sought fame or recognition, why do we? Take time out of your day to have a talk with God. Ask Him to show you the desire of your heart. If He reveals that your desire is to be well known, ask Him to help you cast that desire away. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 5:12-16

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone,but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more,so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 5:12-28; Proverbs 11:23

Demons Know Him

These two passages beg one question, if demons know who Jesus is, why do we struggle knowing the fullness of who He is.

Many people know “of” Jesus, but not many know Him the way these demons know Him. And that’s a problem. Knowing Jesus is critical to knowing God. 

You may “think” you know God, but if you don’t know Jesus, you cannot know God. 

Take time out of your busy schedule today and spend time alone with God. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you in a fresh, clear way that will enable you to know Him and His Son. Begin to have a relationship with Him that will enable you to share the gospel and make disciples. That’s what He has called all of us to do! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 4:33-35; 40-41

33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 4:31-5:11; Proverbs 11:22

He Was Hungry

As I reread verse two of this passage, I changed the word hungry to “human.” Jesus was no different then we are when it came to hunger, thirst, pain, and any other physical feeling or emotion. His body had the same limitations as our bodies do. 

So, why was He able to remain sinless, while we struggle so much and sometimes go from sin to sin without a break? The simple answer is found in verse one and verse fourteen of today’s reading. He was led by the Holy Spirit. 

He yielded to every urging of the Holy Spirit. Whatever the Spirit said to do, Jesus did. That’s the difference. We don’t do that. We have to put our opinion in things. We “know” what’s best. We are not “weak,” we can make our own decisions. I mean, “God wants us to be happy, right?”

What a joke we are sometimes. God NEVER wants us to be happy when it negates us being obedient. (read that twice).

Yes, Jesus was hungry. Also yes, Jesus never sinned. If He did it, we can do it. How? By the power of the Holy Spirit. The One He sent. 

If you doubt that the Holy Spirit can keep you from sinning, then you’re guilty of putting your opinion before God’s truth! Why would the Holy Spirit guide you into sin? Think about that. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 4:1-2

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 4:1-30; Proverbs 11:20-21

His Biological Lineage

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy learning about genealogies. Today’s reading from Luke is the genealogy of Jesus through His mother Mary, or the biological lineage. 

It’s a fascinating genealogy because at one point both have the same line, up to David. 

I always enjoy reading about Jesus lineage because there are people in His direct line that remind us of the grace of God. The one I would encourage you to study today is Perez. Read Genesis 38 to learn how he was conceived. Then consider the fact that he is a direct descendent of King David and Jesus, both through the royal lineage and the biological lineage. 

Now think about your life. What have you done that you believe God will not forgive? What holds you back from complete surrender? As you consider Perez’s conception and place in the line of Jesus, please know that He is a forgiving God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 3:23

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
the son of Heli.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 3:23-38; Proverbs 11:18-19

Produce Fruit

I have not heard many messages on the teachings of John the Baptist. In fact, I have never taught on the teachings of John the Baptist. That will change in the coming week as I will teach about his teachings on the March 23 episode of the Agape Leaders podcast. I hope you listen to the podcast twice weekly. The lessons  will help you grow in your faith. 

In this passage John shares a lesson that Jesus will teach during His time on earth. We need to produce fruit. But there’s a tag on his lesson to produce fruit. He adds, “in keeping with your repentance.”

That jumped off the page for me. We say we have repented. We say we have given our lives to Christ, yet there is no fruit in our lives. We think that we get to say, “my relationship with God is between Him and me, alone” and that absolves us from having to share our gifts and be fruit bearers. That is not so. 

If you are walking with Christ, you MUST bear fruit. It’s non-negotiable. What fruit are you bearing? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 3:7-9

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Today’s Readings:

Luke 3:1-22; Proverbs 11:16-17

Smart Strong Honorable 

Luke 2:52 is one of my favorite verses. While I was earning a master’s degree in ministerial leadership I had a class in which we had to break that passage down into our lives. 

We had to develop a plan to grow wiser through learning, stronger through a physical health plan, and honorable by living for Christ intentionally. I loved doing this. I still have the plan. 

Jesus lived a perfect example for us. If Jesus did it, we must seek to do it. But here’s the beautiful thing. Based on the gift of the Holy Spirit, if Jesus did it, so can we. 

What are you waiting for? Live a life for Christ that leads you to be smart, strong, honorable! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 2:51-52

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with themand was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 2:36-52; Proverbs 11:15

When We Started

This passage in Proverbs brought back so many memories. This seemingly benign proverb was the original foundation scripture for Agape Leaders. 

Through the years, it found its way into the background as the Lord molded this organization into a ministry that makes disciples, feeds & clothes people, and prays for people. 

Our current foundation scripture is Matthew 28:18-20. We are “Living the Great Commission.” However, I will always remember how we started. It’s important to not despise small beginnings. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 11:14

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 2:1-35; Proverbs 11:14

Stop Gossip

If you’ve ever been the topic of gossip, then you know how destructive it can be. Most people know this, yet they continue to participate in it. That is, until it comes to their front door. 

The writer of this proverb shares a truth about gossip that we would do well to internalize. It ends in betrayal. 

Remember, if a person gossips to you about others, it’s fair to assume that they gossip to others about you.

However, notice the flip side of gossip. A person who is trustworthy is one on whom we can rely to maintain our trust. Be that person. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 11:13

13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Today’s Readings:

Luke 1:57-80; Proverbs 11:12-13

God’s Word

“God told me…” I have said this and heard people say it to me. There was a time in my life in which I didn’t fully understand what I was saying. I believed God was speaking to me, but truthfully, I was wrong sometimes. 

Through Spiritual maturity and daily interaction with God through Bible reading and prayer, I am much better at discerning the voice of God from the voice of Gregg or, worse, the voice of the enemy. This has been critical in my walk with Christ. 

We read in Luke that God’s word never fails. When we misrepresent God and that “word” from God fails, we are telling people that God’s word can fail. This can pull people away from Christ. That’s never a good thing, especially for the person who has misrepresented Christ. 

As you share Christ with others, take care to learn the  voice of God by spending much time with Him. You will share Him better. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 1:37:8

37 “For no word from God will ever fail.”

Today’s Readings:

Luke 1:26-56; Proverbs 11:9-11

Y’all Ain’t Ready

Something I say from time to time is the phrase, “y’all ain’t ready.” I got it from a song. It’s a fun way I use to introduce something special or unique. 

As I read this passage, I thought about my funny quip. The world appears to not be ready for Jesus Christ, yet God sent the Preparer to get everyone ready. 

Notice the lineage of John. Notice the faithfulness of his parents. As you study about John the Baptist, you will learn that he was a righteous man. Jesus said of him that there is no person born of a woman who is greater than John. He lived well. 

But his life is not the one we must follow. That example is reserved for Jesus. 

Over the next few weeks we will read through the book of Luke. Purpose in your heart to use this time to draw closer to Christ. Luke’s gospel is a little more detailed in the teachings of Jesus. It holds numerous parables. 

I encourage you to journal through this book. Ask questions, then allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and give you the answers you seek. 

We are called to go and make disciples. But we can’t do that if we ain’t ready. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Luke 1:14-17

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah,to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Today’s Readings: Luke 1:1-25; Proverbs 11:8

Do It Afraid

I have heard people say that if you are afraid to do something, do it afraid. This passage is a reminder of the importance of persevering through fear to do the work of the Father. 

Weekly our ministry goes on prayer walks. We go into the community and ask people if we can pray for them. When we first started doing this, it was fear inspiring to say the least. However, as we have done more prayer walks, the fear has subsided. 

In a recent prayer walk, the person with me prayed for a couple of ladies. Her prayer was bold and powerful. The first time she came on a prayer walk she told us she was not going to pray. Now she’s ready, willing, and able by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Why?

Because she did it afraid until she could do it comfortably. 

Be mindful of this: you may never find comfort in what God has you doing. So what, do it afraid! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Mark 16:8

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Today’s Readings:

Mark 16:1-20; Proverbs 11:7