UCB Word For Today

Don’t be double minded and attempt to think in two different ways at the same time. For example, we come to church to get ‘the wisdom that is from above’ (James 3:17 KJV), then leave church and get the wisdom from below and try to combine them. But it doesn’t work. You cannot mix unleaded fuel and diesel fuel. The moment you do, you have cancelled the unleaded because of the diesel – merely looking like fuel doesn’t mean it will help you. As Christians, we attend church on Sunday to get unleaded, and on Monday go into the world and get diesel. Then we wonder why we’re wearily labouring. Let’s illustrate it this way: we have AM and FM frequencies on our radios: both different, both separate. When riding in a car, you choose which one to listen to; you can’t listen to both at the same time, even though you have both options. The Bible says: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways’ (James 1:5-8 NKJV). God responds to a faith that is single minded and focused on His Word. So, the word for today is – don’t be double minded!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

We all make mistakes, misjudge issues, and mess up at some point. We’re all human. The truth is that mistakes are one of the major ways in which we learn and get wiser. But because of our fear of being criticised or losing face, we often attempt to hide our mistakes. The only real calamity about mistakes is if you don’t learn something from them. Failing to admit a mistake blocks the path to growth. Listen to the words of the Lord when He admonished the Israelites to learn from their mistakes: ‘Jeremiah, say to the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?’”’ (Jeremiah 8:4 NLT). It’s a relief to you and an inspiration to others when you can acknowledge your mistakes without being defined or derailed by them. Circumstances and other people may have swayed our decisions, but in the end, we are each responsible for what we do. When we make a mistake, the action we take is – our choice. The best approach for dealing with your mistake is to accept complete responsibility, learn from it, decide how not to repeat it, and go on. Interestingly, other people will connect with you more and even respect you more when you are able to acknowledge your weaknesses. And it sets them free to do the same thing. Humility is one of the attributes that people esteem in others; pride is hated – even by other proud people.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Author Chuck Swindoll says that when he was a young man, he couldn’t understand how two people who loved the Lord and believed the Bible could come to different conclusions: ‘In my two-by-four thinking I was convinced that all godly minds held identical conclusions…I soon discovered that there weren’t only various opinions, but God had the audacity to bless those who disagreed with me…He isn’t nearly so narrow minded as many of His people…God’s much easier to live with…tolerant…full of more grace and forgiveness than all of us.’ In order to show grace under fire, you must understand and accept these two things: 1) People’s opinions and convictions will often differ from yours. Yes, you must never compromise Bible truth and core values, but it costs no more to be tactful and gracious than it does to be critical and caustic. And that’s especially true when confrontation and correction are called for. Paul writes, ‘If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path’ (Galatians 6:1 NLT). Pay careful attention to the words ‘gently’ and ‘humbly’. 2) Everyone’s perspective has some merit. When you grow up in a home that functions on a right-versus-wrong justice scale, the person who is ‘right’ gets praised while the person who is ‘wrong’ gets put down. And that’s a pity because generally it’s not an ‘I’m-right-and-you’re-wrong’ issue as much as it’s an ‘I-see-it-this-way-and-you-see-it-that-way’ issue. So before you go to war, ask yourself what’s more important: your need to correct this person or to connect with them.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Are you in ‘the school of hard knocks’ today? Are you wondering, ‘Why am I going through this?’ Because God is more interested in your character than your comfort! Patsy Clairmont writes: ‘Jason, our youngest, has two goals in life. One is to have fun, and the other is to rest. And he does both quite well. So I shouldn’t have been surprised by what happened when I sent him to school one fall day. As Jason headed off for the bus, I busied myself, preparing for a full day. The knock on the door was a surprise and disruptive to my morning rhythm, which is not something I have a lot of. I flew to the door, jerked it open, only to find myself looking at Jason. “What are you doing here?” I demanded. “I’ve quit school,” he announced. “Quit school?” I repeated in disbelief, at a decibel level too high for human ears. Swallowing once, I tried to remember some motherly psychology. But all that came to my mind was “A stitch in time saves nine” and “Starve a fever, feed a cold”…Somehow, they didn’t seem to apply to a six-year-old drop-out dilemma. So I questioned, “Why have you quit school?” Without hesitation he proclaimed, “It’s too long, it’s too hard, and it’s too boring!” “Jason,” I instantly retorted, “you’ve just described life. Get on the bus!”’ The Bible says, ‘If you suffer for doing good and…endure it…this is commendable before God.’ So when you find yourself in ‘the school of hard knocks’, rejoice – God is training you for bigger and better things! So, get on the bus!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

When we give in to temptation, it’s easy to blame other people and our environment. ‘Women dress too provocatively today…Men are too sexually aggressive…The media is too explicit.’ These statements may be true, but they don’t help us to overcome the tempter’s tactics. Humorist Will Rogers is attributed with saying, ‘Things aren’t what they used to be, and probably never were!’ Rose-coloured glasses can be deceptive when it comes to looking back. Satan, our enemy, hasn’t altered his tactics. They still work because human nature hasn’t changed. David learned painfully that Bathsheba’s bath routine didn’t cause his failure. Owning responsibility for his behaviour, he prayed, ‘I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against…You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight’ (Psalm 51:3-4 NKJV). Notice two important lessons David learned: 1) He discovered that forgiveness, restoration, and freedom begin by repenting and taking responsibility for your actions. 2) He also learned that the way to maintain power over your lustful nature lies in frequent time spent in God’s Word, not your own efforts. ‘How can a young person stay on the path of purity?’ God’s answer isn’t mystifying or hard to understand. His universal solution is, ‘By living according to your word.’ David’s new attitude and purity of heart came from practising this truth: ‘I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you’ (Psalm 119:11 NIV). And that’s a formula for victory that will work for you too.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Lust is as natural to us as breathing. Our flesh nature lives to fulfil its selfish desires. It never gets enough or stops wanting more. Alternatively, our new nature craves more of what satisfies the Holy Spirit who lives in our redeemed spirit. We’re more familiar with the appeal of the flesh because we have invested more time and energy in nurturing it. We understand its urgency, its appeal, its control, and its compelling tug. But as we invest equal time and energy in what pleases the Holy Spirit, we experience the fulfilment and power the Spirit alone can bring. So what does ‘living in the Spirit’ really mean? Paul tells us, ‘Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh’ and ‘Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place’ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV). There is a way to live above the gravitational pull of the flesh, a way that beats living in a constant cycle of defeat/repentance/defeat. Granted, God is a God of forgiveness and restoration who accepts the genuine confessions from the hearts of His people, and forgives all our transgressions (see 1 John 1:9). But ‘abundant life’ means living where most of your time is spent rejoicing in victory. Just as living in the flesh implies living in accordance with the edicts of your human nature, living in the Spirit implies living in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as outlined in God’s Word. And the end result is that ‘you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh’.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

According to Jesus, lust is preceded by temptation and can lead to sin (see Matthew 5:27-28). But the good news about dealing with temptation is that you’re not alone. God’s Word tells us, ‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v. 13 NKJV). In light of this Scripture, simply saying ‘I couldn’t help myself’ is an excuse that doesn’t hold up before God. The Bible says no temptation is greater than God’s faithfulness. If you choose the way of escape which He offers, you won’t fall into the trap. And if you do fail, it will be because you didn’t draw on God’s faithfulness. The temptation may not disappear immediately, but you will be given a way to bear it, to hold out against it. The temptation remains an active possibility, but God gives us the option of trusting in His reliable, delivering power. Bearing temptation implies an ongoing process. You can win the battle, but the war will never fully end until the last shot is fired at the coming of Jesus when every foe will become his footstool (see Acts 2:35). In the meantime, ‘be vigilant and cautious…for that enemy of yours…roams around like a lion…seeking someone to…devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith…knowing that the same…sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood…throughout the world’ (1 Peter 5:8-9 AMPC).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The patriarch Job said, ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman’ (Job 31:1 NLT). Job couldn’t control his environment and its temptations any more than we can. Still, we can learn a valuable lesson from Job’s words. A covenant is a promise made in good faith with the intention of keeping it. It’s a step of faith you commit to before you know what circumstances you will encounter, not unlike a marriage covenant. The Bible tells us, ‘The just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17 KJV), not by our own efforts. Faith is based on God’s revealed will, and our part is agreeing with God’s will with the understanding that only by His power can we fulfil our vow. Our selfish nature militates against keeping God’s commandments; that’s why everything we need to succeed is ours because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. If you wait until you feel strong enough to honour your covenant with God, it will never happen. But if you make it by faith, recognising your own weakness, the Holy Spirit will provide the strength you need to keep it! His covenant, made by faith, enabled Job to say, I will ‘not…look lustfully at a young woman’ (Job 31:1 NIV). But isn’t it better not to make a covenant than to make one and break it? No, because all our failures are covered by Christ’s blood. ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). Repentance brings forgiveness and a fresh start!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

It seems like no matter where you look nowadays, there are temptations. Our young people are bombarded by imagery that confuses, seduces, and erodes standards of decency and self-control. A wise and devoted eighty-year-old pastor was asked at what age sexual temptation was no longer an issue. Without hesitation, he replied, ‘It must be sometime after eighty!’ The truth is, if you’re breathing – you’re vulnerable! And it doesn’t end there. Research shows that a growing number of women are becoming ensnared in the easily accessible world of seductive literature, movies, and videos. Willpower, internet filtering, and personal accountability partnering are all valuable and can help. But these alone won’t bring about deliverance or provide healing from the moral wounds inflicted by the Enemy. We all need to hear and heed some Bible directives offered for our protection. Jesus said, ‘You have heard…it…said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I tell you…anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matthew 5:27-28 NIV). The first step is to recognise that lust is destructive and scripturally forbidden. Now, Jesus isn’t talking here about a momentary glance. He is talking about a longing look that inflames desire and leads to sin. It implies a process rather than a fleeting thought. The Greek word blepo used here for ‘looks at’ implies special contemplation or wilful, extended thought. Clearly then, a look that stirs up wrongful passion should be our cue to call on the Holy Spirit to help us resist sin and walk in purity.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God instructed the observance of the Sabbath day with good reason: rest from our labours. Now if God felt He should rest after six days of creative activity, how much more should we? Jesus was a big advocate of taking time off. Once, He sent His disciples on an evangelistic journey. When they returned thrilled about all the wonderful miracles that had happened, you would imagine that He would urge them to maintain the momentum. He didn’t. ‘Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place’ (vv. 31-32 NLT). Note the words ‘people coming and going’. Does this sound like your normal day in which you rarely get a chance to take a breather? Jesus was concerned that His disciples would get out of balance. What did He know that we continue to miss? He never rushed around, never seemed to be harried or controlled by the crowds, kept His priorities in order, and always managed to complete what He set out to do. Jesus knew the importance that rest and relaxation played in His disciples’ continued effectiveness. But ‘time-outs’ won’t occur without firm determination and planning. You must view such times just as important as any other undertaking. Prayer: ‘Father, help me to make rest a priority in my life. Help me to stop dishonouring my body, this temple you have given me to perform my purpose here on earth.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.