Thoughts Regarding God and Life
You'll Never Know Until You Try It!

The Word for Today
With Bob Gass


Bob Gass You'll Never Know Until You Try It!

You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24 NIV

Richard Foster writes:

We had a swing set, a real custom-made job - huge steel pipes and all. But our children would soon be beyond swing sets, so we decided to sell it. I went out in the back yard and looked it over. 'It should bring a good price,' I thought to myself. 'In fact, if I touched up the paint I could charge even more.' All of a sudden I began to monitor a spirit of covetousness within me. I asked my wife, Carolyn, if she would mind if we gave the swing set away rather than selling it. 'No, not at all!' I thought to myself 'rats!' But before the day was out we'd found a couple with young children who could make good use of it, and we gave it to them - and I didn't even have to paint it! This simple act of giving crucified the greed that had gripped my heart - at least for the time being.

When was the last time you just gave something away? Something that meant something to you. Not easy, is it? It requires trust that God will look after your needs in ways that you'll never see until you give Him the opportunity.

Dallas Willard said, "The cautious faith that never saws off the limb on which it is sitting, never learns that unattached limbs may find strange, unaccountable ways of not falling." Is it possible that you don't have the intimacy with God you desire because you haven't given enough away? The truth is - you'll never know until you try it!

SoulFood Bible Readings: Is 49- 52, Luke 3:11- 20, Ps 81, Pr 2:11-15

Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.


This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

Sunday, January 28, 2007
After You've Failed

The Word for Today
With Bob Gass


Bob Gass After You've Failed

When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. - Luke 22:32 NIV

God can turn your failures into stepping stones to success. Look at Peter. Jesus told him, "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Lk 22:31-32 NIV).

Notice: (1) Christ warned him about it but He didn't stop it from happening. There are certain things we only learn the hard way. (2) Jesus told Peter that he'd deny Him, not once, but three times. Most of us are stubborn; we don't get it the first time. (3) Peter thought he was stronger than he was: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death" (Lk 22:33 NIV). We usually start out with an exaggerated opinion of our own strength. (4) Jesus told him, "I'm praying for you that your faith may not fail." Isn't that amazing? When we're so low that we can't pray for ourselves, Jesus handles the enemy and intercedes with the Father on our behalf. What did Jesus pray for? Peter's faith! Faith in God's grace is the rope that pulls us back up again. (5) Jesus believed in Peter even when Peter didn't believe in himself. That's because we evaluate ourselves by our present circumstances, but Jesus sees us in the fullness of our potential. So He tells Peter, "When (not if) yo u get back on track, do something good with what's happened."

Now, if temporary failure happened to Peter, how much more likely is it to happen to you? And when it does, what do you suppose the Lord wants to accomplish through it?

SoulFood Bible Readings: Gal 5:13- 26, 1 Sam 17:4- 51

Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.


This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by: