WAIT, BUT DON’T OVER-WAIT

"Let’s avoid two dangers. First, the danger of NOT-waiting on the Lord. We often think God is slow because we want an overnight success, instant prosperity, quick solutions to our problems, rapid recovery from illness, and instant marriages or relationships. Second, the danger of OVER-waiting on God. Here, we don’t like what God is bidding us to do, so we don’t obey Him or we postpone obedience. Whereas the first danger tries to rush God’s timing, the second doesn’t immediately heed His clear directives. Both dangers express lack of faith. Wait on the Lord, but don’t over-wait.”—SKP

Meditation on Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31; Exodus 14:15; Deuteronomy 1:19-33.

THE MAJESTY OF SILENCE

“Silence at the right time is the most effective speech. The majesty of silence is revealed by a calm, dignified restraint in the face of accusations, injustice, betrayal, and hurt. Being thus silent does not mean one is speechless, sullen, or dumb. Rather, this voluntary surrender of our right to speak is occasioned by a higher cause. It permits God to be our voice, while allowing our accusers to reveal their true character. Like our Lord Jesus Christ at His trials, we don’t need to defend ourselves when we’re secured in God’s will and His plans for our lives.”–-SKP

Meditation on Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 14:60, 61; 15:3-5; Luke 23:8-10; John 19:9.

THOUGHT NUGGET #19

By Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD

SIX MORE CHANCES 

“God is not just a God of 'second chances,' but also the God of ‘six more chances.’ The Bible says: ‘A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again...’  If a godly man rises again after falling seven times, the mathematical implication is that when he first fell he had ‘six more chances’ left! Therefore, whenever you experience a major fall—personal, professional, or spiritual—don’t despair or give up. Don’t stay down. Keep getting up. You may be knocked down, but you’re not knocked out. Through Christ’s forgiving, transforming, and restorative grace you have “six more chances.”—SKP

Meditation on Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 37:23-25; Micah 7:8, 9; 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9.

(SKP's “Song in the Dark”)

TOMORROW IS PAST

“It’s said: ‘Yesterday is history, today is reality, and tomorrow a mystery.’ Despite the mystery and unpredictability about the future, with God tomorrow is as certain as yesterday. Six months before Jesus’ birth, His future mission was stated in the past tense: “God has VISITED and REDEEMED his people” (Luke 1:68, 69). He was in the womb, and His earthly ministry, death, and resurrection lay in the future. Yet, Christ’s mission is written in the past tense! With God, the future is already history. He’s already set things in motion to accomplish our hopes for tomorrow. We can confidently face the future because Jesus Christ has visited our tomorrow and has made it as irreversibly certain as yesterday."---SKP

Meditations on Isaiah 44:6-8; 46:9, 10; Luke 1:67-80; Hebrews 13:8

THE THING ABOUT SIN

“The thing about sin is that everyone is an expert on other peoples' sins. Davids express righteous indignation at the rich man for taking the poor man’s only lamb. Pious Scribes and Pharisees want to stone the woman caught in adultery. Loyal siblings are outraged that their father celebrates the prodigal son’s return. Victims of the thief on the cross feel contented that 'justice has been served!' Against our expert verdicts on other peoples’ sins, the finger of the Unerring One writes in sand, ‘Thou art the man!’ When God saves us from our self-righteousness, we shall pray with the tax-collector, ‘God, be merciful to ME a sinner!’”—SKP

SKP's Meditations on 2 Samuel 12:1-13; Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 7:1-5; Psalm 51

A GIFT TO RE-GIFT

“To ‘regift’ is ‘to give a gift one has received to someone else.’ Forgiveness is one gift we must always regift. The FORGIVEN must be FORGIVING. We may have had no choice over the actions of those who betrayed, wounded, or abused us, but we can choose to regift to them the divine forgiveness we ourselves have received. When we don’t forgive, we become the slaves of those who hurt us. We also risk losing our salvation. For, whereas a forgiven abuser would be saved, the unforgiving abused could be lost! Regifting forgiveness is at the heart of the Christmas message. Let's regift the Gift!"—SKP

Meditations on Matthew 1:18-25; 6:12-15; 18:21-35; Ephesians 4:32

(SKP's Christmas “Song in the Dark”)

BIRTHDAYS

“Unless we take time to discover the purpose of the life we’re celebrating, the celebration of birthdays is, frankly, a fuss, if not a farce. The lyrics of a 1970s secular song sum it up: ‘Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die?’ Stated differently, WHY I’m born is more important than the WHEN. Purpose gives meaning to life. When we discover a life of purpose, our lives become purposeful. Therefore, on our birthdays and those of our loved ones, let’s remember to raise the ‘Why?’ question. Then, and only then, can the birthdays be real milestones of life, and not some blips of existence on calendars.”—SKP

Meditations on on Jeremiah 1:4, 5.

(SKP’s “Song in the Dark”)

SELF-PITY

“One doesn't have to be good-looking, talented, intelligent, powerful, or rich to be proud. Pride also infects some of the ugliest, seemingly ungifted, ignorant, oppressed, and poorest people. SELF-PITY is the pride of the weak and suffering. It’s the most subtle form of pride because, while pretending to be very needy, it is actually unrenewed self clamoring for attention. Priding itself in its deprived status, self-pity often masquerades as “humility.” It’s delusional, seeing itself as “a victim” for its own failures and mistakes. When self-pity refuses to acknowledge its loathsome condition, it is incurable and deadly.”--SKP

Meditations on Proverbs 29:23; James 4:6