UCB Word For Today

One morning in a city called Dothan, a servant of the prophet Elisha awoke and was terrified because an enemy army surrounded him and his boss. ‘What shall we do?’ he cried. Elisha told him to chill out, for ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed for him: ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw that they were surrounded by horses and chariots of fire – the power of God and protection of God (see vv. 15-17 NKJV). As a result, their enemies were neutralised. What if this became your prayer as well? What if every time you were challenged or burdened, God opened your spiritual eyes to see that you too were surrounded by His power and protection? It happened to two followers of Jesus who were walking on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion. A third man joined them. It was Jesus, walking and talking with them – but they didn’t recognise Him until He began to pray. And then they knew. Then they said, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32 NKJV). What if you were on the road to Emmaus, commuting into work, school, or home – and Jesus was right there beside you? What if you could join the ‘fellowship of the burning heart’ and actually experience His presence? You can. Just reach for Him, recognise Him, and respond to Him.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

When your parents grow old and become less capable of taking care of themselves, they need certain things from you, like love, kindness, patience, tenderness, sensitivity, and understanding. When you were a child, perhaps your mother picked you up at school because you didn’t like to take the bus, and now you’re upset with her for being five minutes late. If you are a teen or a preteen, it’s wrong to be more kind, considerate, and patient with your friends and your friends’ mothers than your own mother. Indeed, if you treated your friends like you treat your mum, you wouldn’t have many friends left. And if you treated their mum like you do your own, their mum wouldn’t let her child have anything to do with you. When your mother gets old and needs more care, it’s payback time! ‘But she is always complaining,’ you say. Yes, just like you did, right? ‘But she talks about herself and asks the same questions over and over.’ As they get older, our parents experience fears they never had before, and they need you to reassure them that you will always be there for them. One of the last things Jesus did when He was dying on the cross was to commit the care of His mother, Mary, to His close friend and disciple, John: ‘Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home’ (John 19:27 CEV). So, the word for today is – take good care of your mother.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

During World War II, the British Department of Information designed three ‘home publicity’ posters. The first said, ‘Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution will bring us victory.’ The second said, ‘Freedom is in peril.’ The third and most famous said, ‘Keep calm and carry on.’ The department printed 2.45 million of the third poster, but they were never publicly displayed. That motto had all but vanished from Britain’s consciousness when a bookstore-owning couple in Alnwick – Stuart and Mary Manley – discovered an original copy of the poster at the bottom of a box of old books. With Pharaoh’s chariots bearing down on Moses from behind, and the Red Sea in front of him, he was ‘between a rock and a hard place’. That’s when God gave Moses these instructions: ‘The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). That sounds an awful lot like keep calm and carry on, doesn’t it? What would be the hardest thing to do if Egyptian chariots were charging straight at you at full speed? To be still! When we find ourselves in this sort of situation, we want to do something – anything. We have a nervous energy that tries to solve problems as quickly as possible. But these are the tests that reveal trust. Sometimes God leads us to a place where we have nowhere to turn but to Him. Is that where you are today? Then trust God’s power, love, and faithfulness, and He will bring you safely through it.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God never gives a person responsibility without giving the ability to respond. So you can look in the mirror today and say with confidence, ‘God, You’ve given me this responsibility and the ability to respond to it.’ In the Bible, when God called regular people to do great things, they usually responded with a sense of inadequacy. When God charged Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage: ‘Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me…I have a speech impediment”’ (Exodus 4:10 TLB). God wouldn’t hear of it, and He told Moses, ‘Go ahead and do as I tell you, for I will help you to speak well, and…tell you what to say’ (Exodus 4:12 TLB). When God told Gideon to lead the Israelites to victory against the powerful forces of Midian, we read: ‘“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive”’ (Judges 6:15-16 NIV). Gideon conquered an army of 135,000 with only 300 soldiers – plus God. That’s a ratio of 450 to 1! So next time Satan reminds you that you are inadequate, say: ‘You’re correct! But I’m connected to a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present. Through Him I can do all things!’ (see Philippians 4:13).© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

It doesn’t take many people to bring about change. In fact, too many people can get in the way. Gideon took 32,000 to fight, but God needed only 300. He doesn’t care how many can be counted – He cares only about how many can be counted on. The truth is that your life could be messed up because too many people are telling you what to do. Hang up the phone. Shut the door. Turn off the TV. Get down before God and ask Him to speak to you. He will give you the word you need (see Isaiah 50:4). God doesn’t need a crowd; He just needs one who will listen and obey. If He wants to start a nation, He’ll give hope and vision to an Abraham. If He wants to bring down an Egyptian Pharaoh, He’ll reach into the bulrushes and pull out a Moses. When He wants a lineage for His Son, He’ll go to the ‘red light district’ and find a Rahab. He’s just looking for a willing heart. Listen again: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’ Ethel Waters, who sang with the Billy Graham crusades, loved to say, ‘God don’t sponsor no flops.’ Her grammar was slightly off, but her theology was ‘right on’. Don’t spend your life trying to be ordinary. Don’t pour your life into the mould of someone else’s expectations. God has an agenda for you. The reason He’s brought you through so much is that He has a higher plan and purpose for your life. Get into His presence today and ask Him about it.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

An observant Jew says a minimum of one hundred blessing prayers each day, beginning with the Hebrew formula: Baruch Atah Adonai. Practising Jews bless God when they see or experience something for the first time. They bless God for smells and tastes. And if something is pleasurable, they bless God. If you enjoy something without saying a blessing, according to the Talmud, it’s as if you had stolen it. ‘All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.’ Note the words ‘come upon’ and ‘overtake’. You never know how or when His blessings will overtake you. But unlike His goodness and mercy, which ‘follow’ us all the days of our lives (see Psalm 23:6), the blessings of God are tracking you down like a heat-seeking missile. They’re hot on your trail. And one day they’re going to overtake you. Now God doesn’t bless us so we can raise our standard of living; He blesses us so we can raise our standard of giving. The greatest blessing is the ability to bless others. Have you been blessed? That’s where you need to flip the blessing. Where has God shown you favour? That’s where you need to return the favour. There is no greater joy than being on the giving end of a gift. Isn’t that what Jesus said? ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35 NIV). There are hundreds of blessings in Scripture, each with your name on it. If you are in Christ, the blessings belong to you. ‘No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). So, count your blessings.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Live with one ear towards heaven: ‘Is this opportunity from you, God?’ ‘Are you in this venture, God?’ ‘Should I take this road, God?’ One time Joshua failed to do this and paid for it. Here’s the story. A group of strangers entered the camp of Israel saying, ‘From a very far country your servants have come’ (v. 9 NKJV). Evidently, they knew God’s law had made special provisions for cities outside of Canaan (see Deuteronomy 20:10-12). Any city that agreed to make peace with Israel would be spared. So, being afraid, they resorted to deception. Three days passed before Joshua realised he had been lied to. These people were not from a distant land; they were from Gibeon, only a day’s walk away. As a result, Joshua entered into an alliance with the enemy because he didn’t seek the counsel of God. We do well to learn from his mistake. Our enemy enters our camp in disguise as well: ‘Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV). He’s crafty. That’s why it’s essential that we consult God in everything. In every decision and at each crossroad, acknowledge Him, heed Him, and ask Him: ‘Do I turn right or left?’ David said that God’s Word is a ‘lamp unto our feet’ (Psalm 119:105 KJV), not a spotlight into the future. He gives enough light to take the next step. When we pray, He speaks to our hearts: ‘Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left’ (Isaiah 30:21 NLT). So consult God in everything.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you are serious about having a truly interactive relationship with the Lord in which you speak to one another and hear from one another, you will need to spend quality, uninterrupted time opening your heart to Him. When Samuel finally prayed, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears,’ the Bible says, ‘Then the LORD said to Samuel.’ All too often, our prayer is ‘Listen, God, for Your servant is speaking.’ Listening to God can involve a variety of practices: reading His Word, spending time in solitude and silence, and hearing from God just like a seasoned friend you trust. Here’s an example: ‘As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” And he went on. “But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God”’ (1 Samuel 9:27 NKJV). One of the most effective ways of hearing from God is through meditating on His Word. You might say, ‘But I don’t know how to meditate.’ If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. In both worry and meditation, your thoughts and focus are given to a certain thing. When you meditate on God’s Word, you’re focusing your thoughts on the right thing! God told Joshua: ‘This Book…shall not depart from your mouth [speak it regularly], but you shall mediate [focus] in it day and night, that you may observe to do [act on it] according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success’ (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you use a computer, you know what the save button is. To save a created document, you just press the save button. Words on the screen descend into the core of the machine. As long as the words are limited to the screen, they are vulnerable to the irascible cursor. It earns its name. We curse the little monster as it gobbles up our hard work. But once we save it, it is safe. Question: are you clicking the save button on Scripture? You save truth when you deliberately allow what you’ve read or heard to become part of who you are. Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ As you know (save) truth, the truth frees you from guilt, fear, pride, anger, etc. Saved truth has a shaping, reconfiguring impact on your heart. Only when you allow the truth of Scripture to be the authority in your life will you prove that it works. How do you do this? Begin with a prayer: ‘God, please speak to my heart today as I read Your Word.’ Then with an open heart, read until a message hits you, and you will receive great rewards. God told Joshua if he did this, He would make his way ‘prosperous’ (see Joshua 1:8). The promise of prosperity includes finances, but it also refers to a wealthy spirit, mind, and body. God prospers a leader with new skills, a worker with good sleep, a teacher with added patience, a mother with deeper affection, and an elderly person with greater hope. So click the save button!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you make wise decisions now, you’ll have a better future. If you waste your time now, you’ll have regrets. That’s why you need to do the right thing when you have the opportunity to do it. Paul wrote: ‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us’ (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). God is able to do great things as His power works through you. So it’s not just about God doing things for you; He also wants to do things through you. Stop wishing your life would change, and start taking action! Pray and study God’s Word. And as He speaks to your heart, step out in faith and do what He leads you to do. God created you to live on purpose, for a purpose! He hasn’t just called you to be busy – He’s also called you to bear good fruit (see John 15:16). It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. But you need to take time out to think about how you’re spending your time! Before you go to sleep, reflect on the things that filled your day: which of them fulfilled God’s plan and purpose and which of them were a distraction? Ask God to reveal the things that need to change and ways you can make better choices that line up with His wisdom. Then lean on Him for the strength you need to make those changes. If you do, you’ll be fulfilled, peaceful, and excited about how God is working in your life.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Paul writes, ‘By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God’ (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV). Why did Paul say we are saved through grace alone? Because trying to obtain salvation by keeping the law sets you up for failure. ‘For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.’ You say, ‘That’s an impossible standard!’ You’re right! The law is like an X-ray machine; it can reveal what’s under the surface and identify the problem, but it can’t fix it. The law is also like a mirror. It can tell you that you need to apply make-up, or shave, or comb your hair, but it can’t do these things for you. In other words, the law can show you your problem but can’t solve it. But what the law could not do, Christ did on the cross (see Romans 8:3). When Jesus said, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30 KJV), all your sins from the cradle to the grave were atoned for. And when you put your trust in Him, you are saved for time and eternity. Some people acknowledge that you are made right with God by grace, through putting your trust in Christ. But, they believe you maintain your salvation by keeping the works of the law. The problem is, even on your best day, you cannot live up to all the demands of a perfect God. The hymnist wrote, ‘Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting Him whate’er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all!’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Each time David saw Goliath’s armour hanging in his tent, it was a sacred reminder of God’s faithfulness to him and of God’s power that was available to him. The word remember recurs almost 250 times in Scripture. And there is a reason why. We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. That’s why God is always telling us to build altars or make memorials. Jacob built an altar at Bethel, where God gave him a life-changing dream (see Genesis 28:18-22). The Israelites took twelve stones from the river Jordan and used them to build a miracle altar in Gilgal, reminding them of how God miraculously parted the waters for them (see Joshua 4:20-24). Samuel built a victory altar at Mizpah called ‘Ebenezer’ after God answered his prayer and marshalled the forces of nature to supernaturally defeat the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 7:12). Without sacred reminders, we could forget the spiritual lessons we have learned along the way. The Bible records the literal weight of Goliath’s armour: 125 pounds, 15 ounces. Every time David took down his tent and pitched it somewhere else, the armour went with him. Why? Because it doubled as a daily reminder of God’s faithfulness to him. It was also a great confidence builder. Whatever the future held, David knew that with God’s help he could handle it. There are two lessons here: first, if God did it for David, He will do it for you; second, if God did it before, He can do it again.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says: ‘Saul clothed David with his armour…and David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook…and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine”’ (vv. 38-40 NKJV). David had to make a choice; one that would determine his destiny. He could go into battle as Saul – wearing Saul’s armour, flaunting Saul’s sword, clutching Saul’s shield. Or he could engage in battle as David – a shepherd with a slingshot. David chose not to wear Saul’s armour or wield Saul’s sword for one excellent reason: he wasn’t Saul. David decided to be himself – the David God called, anointed, and equipped for the task. There comes a time in all our lives when we need to be brave enough to remove Saul’s armour. And it takes the most uncommon form of courage, the courage to be yourself. We all begin as originals, but too many of us finish up as imitators of someone else. Instead of honouring our uniqueness, and the uniqueness of others, we are too frequently intimidated by it. We abandon our uniqueness because we want to fit in. In one of his best-known essays, ‘Self-Reliance’, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, ‘There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that…imitation is suicide. He must take himself for better, for worse.’ That is what David did, and God gave him great victory. And that is what God wants you to do. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says: ‘The people…stood around him from morning till evening…Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone”’ (vv. 13, 17-18 NIV). You may have noticed on the back of tractor-trailer rigs a sign that communicates their load limit. Roads have weigh stations to make sure these lorries aren’t carrying too much weight. If a tractor-trailer with a huge engine has load limits, then it makes sense that we do too. Moses had exceeded his load limit. Eating on the run, running from one end of the camp of Israel to the other, scheduling meetings, hitting deadlines, and seeing everyone who asked was too much. On the inside he was dying. He had two options: collapse, or share the load. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, told him to evaluate what only he could do, and delegate the rest. Anytime you are staring at a job that looks larger than you can handle alone, understand that God is telling you, ‘Don’t try it alone.’ But Jethro didn’t tell Moses to ditch the work and throw it on just anybody. That’s a formula for disaster. To delegate successfully, you have to do these three things: 1) Get the right people. 2) Give them the right task. 3) Trust them to do it right; don’t micromanage them. So, the word for today is – do what only you can do, delegate the rest to others, and trust God for success!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

After his violation of Bathsheba, King David finally got honest and confessed his sin to Nathan the prophet. ‘Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However…by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme”’ (2 Samuel 12:13-14 KJV). Later, David would write in the Psalms: ‘Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish.’ Let’s take a moment and consider the ‘downside’ of immorality when it is found out: 1) Your partner experiences shame, rejection, betrayal, and heartache. No amount of repentance or asking forgiveness can soften the blow. Suspicion replaces trust. 2) The innocence and trust of your children are dealt a devastating blow. Their healthy outlook on life is likely to be severely damaged. 3) The heartache experienced by your parents, family, and peers is indescribable. And you are likely to be embarrassed in facing other Christians, especially those who have openly appreciated, respected, and trusted you. 4) Your fall may be perceived by others as a licence for them to do the same. 5) Your inner peace will be gone. 6) Your confidence before God will be forfeited. 7) Your enemies will have further reason to jeer and sneer, and the cause you represent will suffer harm. What a high price to pay. What’s the answer? Be filled and stay filled with the Holy Spirit. Here’s why: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Because of the connection we have with those we love, when they hurt, we hurt. One of the greatest things we can do is intercede in prayer for those who need healing. God can use us as an agent of healing: ‘Pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]’ (AMPC). We see this principle throughout the Bible. A Roman centurion went to Jesus for the healing of his servant, and Christ did not disappoint him (see Matthew 8:5-7). Four people tore the roof off a house to get their sick friend into the presence of Jesus so he could be healed of palsy. And Jesus said to him, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’ (see Mark 2:1-11). A concerned father went to Jesus when his daughter was at the point of death. Because Jesus was delayed, the little girl died anyway. Jesus walked to her bedside and said: ‘“Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked…And they were overcome with great amazement’ (Mark 5:41-42 NKJV). One of the last promises Jesus gave us before leaving this earth was: ‘These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will…lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’ (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV). Confession: ‘As a believer in Christ, I have the authority to pray, to lay hands on the sick, and see them recover because the Spirit of God lives in me.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Sometimes we make the mistake of placing our trust in people when we should be placing our trust in the Lord. And since God cannot fail and people can, we end up getting hurt and disappointed. The Bible says that King Asa of Judah had a perfect heart towards God. Yet when an enemy nation came against him, he panicked and purchased a military alliance with another king. And he did it with funds he took from the house of God. Upon hearing the news of Asa’s coalition, his enemy retreated. Asa had figured out the solution. His plan had worked – or so it seemed. Then God sent the prophet Hanani to rebuke King Asa. Why? ‘Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God’ (2 Chronicles 16:7 NKJV). This is often the plight of those who are highly logical and intelligent. Their confidence is in their own ability to figure out a solution to their dilemmas. Hanani continued to rebuke Asa: ‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars’ (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV). Later in life, when Asa faced a life-threatening disease, ‘he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians’ (2 Chronicles 16:12 NIV). They could not help him, so he died. So the word for today is – never give people the trust that should be placed in the Lord alone.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Good credit establishes your future buying power. But when you misuse debt, you experience anxiety each month as you pull the envelope from the letterbox with the credit card bill that says you’ve spent more than you can afford. And what about the unexpected challenges of life? Your car needs a new gearbox, or you need a house repair not covered by your insurance. The things you buy don’t just cost you money; there are other less tangible costs such as your peace of mind and your sense of security. You forfeit these things when you continue to live beyond your means and throw good money after bad debt by taking out ‘interest-only’ loans, no-down-payment financing, and other seemingly ‘easy’ financing options. Like a juggler, you keep the plates in the air by making minimum payments each month. But eventually, you get tired of the stress and the plates begin to fall. You borrow money to stay afloat and then spend sleepless nights wondering how you’ll be able to keep up with the payments. Your embarrassment only compounds the situation as you hide your financial problems and put on a good face, cutting yourself off from the help you desperately need. If you’re in debt, what’s the solution? 1) Identify the emotions that led you to purchase items you couldn’t afford in order to fill some unnamed hole within you. 2) Live on a budget. ‘There is desirable treasure…in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it’ (Proverbs 21:20 NKJV). 3) Develop a plan for getting out of debt and staying out of it!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

With the national coffers depleted from a series of costly wars, King Frederick William III of Prussia found his nation seriously short of funds as it attempted to rebuild. He refused to capitulate to his enemies and couldn’t face disappointing his people. He asked the women of Prussia to bring their gold and silver jewellery to be melted down and used in exchange for the things the nation desperately needed. As each woman brought her jewellery, she was given a ‘decoration’ of iron as a symbol of the king’s gratitude. On it was inscribed the words: ‘I gave gold for iron, 1813.’ The women came to prize their gifts from the king more than their former jewels! Their decorations were proof they had sacrificed for their king. In fact, it became highly unfashionable in early nineteenth-century Prussia for women to wear jewellery but very fashionable to wear a cross of iron. It was from this that the Order of the Iron Cross was established. There are two sides to the Christian life: blessing and sacrifice. Paul said: ‘Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Philippians 3:8 NLT). Jesus spelled out the cost of discipleship: ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’ (Matthew 16:24 NKJV). The hymnist wrote: ‘“Take up thy cross and follow me,” I hear my blessed Saviour call. How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Here’s something we don’t think about enough – but should! How you treat those you are in relationship with influences the relationship you have with God. Jesus spelled it out clearly: ‘If you bring your gift to the altar [if you serve in the church, pay particular attention here!], and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift’ (vv. 23-24 NKJV). Jesus commands the offender, even if the offence was unintentional, to take the initiative in healing and restoring the relationship. That calls for true humility. Max Lucado writes: ‘You may find this hard to believe, but not everyone likes the preacher. There are times when I misstep or misspeak and incur the displeasure of a parishioner. In the early years of my ministry, when I got wind of someone’s unhappiness, I dismissed the problem. “If he doesn’t bring it to me, then I have no hand in the matter.” But then I read Jesus’ words…Jesus commands the offender to take the initiative. I find that passage to be quite unpleasant. Even so, I have tried to apply it to my fragile friendships. “Bob,” I have enquired, “have I said something to upset you?” “Mary, there seems to be tension between us. Are we okay?” Without fail, the step has resulted in restoration. Never in my four decades of ministry has this practical teaching failed to achieve its goal. When Scripture is mixed with obedience, a healing elixir results.’ So the word for today is – try for reconciliation.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.