Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
--Proverbs 4:23
Some people always look for a reason to be unhappy. They walk into a beautiful meadow, and pass all the flowers just to find the cow manure in the corner so they can complain! In my years of ministry, I’ve seen many people just like that. But if I had the choice, I’d definitely prefer to be with people who look for the positive.
I talk with pastors all the time whose churches are resisting them for no real reason. These pastors want to do some great things but they’re just crushed because of the pessimistic spirit of their church. And even outside the church in the workforce, people would much rather be behind an optimist than someone with a negative attitude. Optimistic teams are much more productive!
Look at today’s verse: “Keep your heart…” That means we’re to keep our mind, will, and emotions pointed in a positive direction so that even when setbacks occur, we know the victory will be ours. And when we do that, we’ll experience a flow of joy in our lives.
Keep your heart; don’t lose hope; stay optimistic. The victory is already yours. So live like it!
HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE BECAUSE THE VICTORY IS ALREADY YOURS IN JESUS CHRIST!
Seeking Manna on the Sabbath
Friday, November 22, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.”
Exodus 16:27–30
When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, providing food was a challenge beyond human solution. So God provided manna each morning. When Moses told them this was going to happen, he gave strict instructions that they were not to leave any overnight. Those who disregarded his teaching found that their manna had worms and stunk the next morning. So they learned that manna didn’t last. But on the sixth day, Moses told them to gather a double portion so that they would not have to work on the Sabbath day. Yet some, remembering the stench of leftover manna, went out to look for it anyhow, only to find nothing.
In our day there are many people who place the lessons of their experience ahead of what God has said. While experience is a valuable teacher, it does not supersede Scripture. When what we think we have learned conflicts with what God has declared, He is right and we are wrong. With our limited understanding, it is easy for us to take the wrong lessons from our experiences, and rather than being guided rightly, we are led astray. The people who went out to seek manna on the Sabbath knew about the worms and the stench. The problem was a problem of faith. They were not willing to accept what God said and act on it.
Today's Growth Principle: We should never elevate our experience or opinions over God’s Word, but we should evaluate our experience and opinions by God’s Word. |
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