‘Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle.’ Romans  1:1 NASB

In the Bible the word minister isn’t just a noun (which denotes a person, place, or thing); it’s also a verb (an action word). It’s what you do, not what you claim to be. In Scripture, the word servant sometimes referred to a 3rd-level galley slave chained to the oar of a Roman ship. Day and night, they rowed to the beat of another, and whether in battle or in merchant service, they expected to die chained to that oar. What a picture!

Paul says, ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable’ (Romans 12:1 NLT). Paul had no doubt about what God had called him to be. When he referred to himself as a bond-servant, he was describing a slave who served his master faithfully for six years. In the 7th year, the law of Moses required that the slave be set free. But if, when he was released, he came back and said, ‘Master, I’m not serving you because I have to; I’m serving you because I want to,’ his master would take him before a magistrate and pierce his ear, signifying that he belonged to him forever (see Exodus 21:6). Sometimes you need to look up and say: ‘Lord, I’m not serving you because I have to; I’m serving you because I love you. Pierce my ear. Mark me as yours. Bond me with you so I can never belong to another.’

When you think of everything Jesus has done for you, is that really too much to ask?

SoulFood: Acts 20-21, Mark 5:1-10, Ps 144:1-8, Pro 11:10-11

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

‘The thoughts of the righteous are right.’ Proverbs 12:5 NKJV

Your mind can work for you or against you. When it works for you, it helps you to stay positive, reach your goals, and enjoy each day. But when it works against you, it can make you negative and discouraged, hold you back, and cause you to think thoughts that result in self-sabotage. So teach your mind to work for you instead of against you.

An important way to do this is to make an intentional decision that you’ll begin to think positively—in terms of faith and not fear. Now, your brain won’t be able to fulfil this new role overnight. You may be asking it to undergo a radical transformation, and that takes time. But determine that with your diligence and God’s help, instead of working against you, your brain will go to work for you and become a positive force in your life.

Dr Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist, points out that the brain takes decades to grow, and a lifetime to mature. Don’t miss this point! While every organ in your body was fully formed when you were born and got bigger as your body grew, your brain actually takes a full 25 years to grow. And once it’s fully formed, it continues to mature until the day you die. That means no matter how old you are, your brain is still growing. This is great news, because it means you don’t have to stay stuck in old or wrong thought patterns. Your brain is still maturing, which means you can still improve in your thinking.

As the Bible says, ‘The thoughts of the righteous are right.’

SoulFood: 2 Pet 1–3, John 4:27–38, Ps 87, Pr 24:1–4

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.’ Proverbs 20:5 NIV

The people who knew Simon knew he was impulsive and tended to put his foot in his mouth. But Jesus saw something else in him; that’s why He renamed him Peter, implying he was a stone suitable for a foundation.

Can’t you imagine the look on the other disciples’ faces when Jesus said, ‘You are Peter… upon this rock I will build My church, and… hell will not conquer it’? (Matthew 16:18 NLT) Yet Peter did indeed become a founding pillar and respected leader in the early church. And all because of Christ’s ability and willingness to look beyond the surface and see what was on the inside.

Being made in God’s likeness gives a person amazing potential, but sometimes it takes ‘a man of understanding’ to recognise it and draw it out. Too many of us see only what is on the surface. So we are quick to peg someone as arrogant, or quick-tempered, or weak, etc. But when you have spiritual insight, you see beyond all that, to the hopes and fears behind the person’s behaviour. We don’t need more self-appointed critics, we need:

(1) Parents who pray for their children, look beyond their flaws, and draw out their uniqueness.

(2) Spouses who search for the hidden treasure in their mates.

(3) Business leaders who treat their workers with respect, and match their responsibilities with their talents.

(4) Believers who forgive immature, stumbling fellow Christians and work to develop them.

(5) Soul winners who see lost people through the eyes of Jesus and recognise what His transforming power can do. So pray for spiritual insight.

SoulFood: Acts 14–15, Luke 8:1–15, Ps 133, Pr 16:2

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Until Christ is formed in you.’ Galatians 4:19 NIV

When you become a Christian you discover that part of you wants to walk ‘in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4 KJV), while another part wants to walk ‘after the flesh.’ (Romans 8:5 KJV) And you would, if it weren’t for God’s Spirit who lives in your divided house and ‘convicts’ you when you do certain things, challenging you with God’s Word (see John 16:7–14). The truth is, your new heart is still living in your old body.

Some people expect that, when they first come to Christ, an instant and radical makeover will transform them. It’ll be like a grub-to-butterfly metamorphosis, so massive that a radiant holy self will fly up effortlessly, after struggling out of the cocoon of fleshly desires. So they try to punch the cocoon out of existence, believing that when it’s gone, they’ll be the kind of dazzling person God could really love.

But God’s love isn’t given out like that. God doesn’t want do-it-yourself righteousness. The Bible says, ‘He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Paul writes, ‘My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.’ God alone knows the process it will take for the Christ who saved you to be formed in you! We each travel our own paths at our own pace, but our goal is the same: to bear a greater likeness to our heavenly Father. And getting us there is God’s job—so let Him do it. Your job is to keep walking with Him day by day as He does it.

SoulFood: Ezek 14:1–16:52, Matt 21:33–46, Ps 103:1–12, Pro 19:12–16

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.’ Psalm 1 9:8 NKJV

‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.’ (Psalm 19:7–8 NKJV)

‘More to be desired are they than gold… sweeter also than honey… by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.’ (Psalm 19:10–14 NKJV)

This prayer shows that the psalmist regarded meditation as an utter necessity to his spiritual life. And if that was true for him in his day, how much more vital is it for you today! You need to bathe your mind each day in the waters of God’s Word so that your words and thoughts are pleasing in His sight. Choose a time during your day, whether it’s the start of the day, at coffee break, during your lunchtime, coming home from work, or before falling asleep at night to reflect upon the truth of God’s Word. The greatest changes in your life will come through the process of meditating on the Scriptures—just letting the Word of God filter and percolate through your mind and into your life. First-class Bible reading calls not for snapshots but for timed exposures.

SoulFood: Lev 18-20, Matt 5:13-26, Ps 71:1-16, Pro 2:1-2

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

‘We are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.’ 1 John 5:14 NLT

As a leader, Grover Cleveland, the only President of the United States to leave the White House and then return for a second term four years later, was remarkable. He would often personally answer the office phone in the White House, as well as opening the door for visitors himself. At the time, the people of America had a ‘direct line ‘to the President.

It’s like that in your relationship with God. But it’s much better. You not only have a ‘direct line’ to Heaven to get straight through to the ruler of the universe, but when God is your Father, you can call ‘home’ anytime. He is never more than a prayer away!

Jesus said: ‘Ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him!’ (Matthew 7:7–11 NCV)

We can talk to God without begging and grovelling, ‘confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And… He will give us what we ask for.’ (1 John 5:14–15 NLT) So, whatever is robbing you of your confidence in prayer, deal with it today.

SoulFood: Dan 11-12, Matt 5:1-5, Ps 144:9-15, Pro 10:22-23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

‘If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross.’ Matthew 16:24 CEV

Surrender is not the same thing as being passive. God’s will for your life involves exercising creativity, making choices, and taking initiative. Surrender does not mean being a doormat; it does not mean you accept circumstances with resigned patience. Often it means you will have to fight to challenge the status quo. It doesn’t mean that you stop using your mind, stop asking questions, or stop thinking critically. Surrender is not a crutch for weak people who cannot handle life.

Instead, surrender is the glad and voluntary acknowledgment that there is a God, and He is not you. His purposes are wiser and better than your desires. Jesus doesn’t come to rearrange the outside of your life the way you want; He comes to rearrange the inside of your life the way God wants. In surrender, you let go of your life. You recognise that you are no longer the centre of the universe, and you put God there. You yield to Him. You offer obedience. You do what He says.

Jesus was very clear on this point: ‘Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies [to self] it produces many seeds.’ (John 12:24 NIV) How do you live a productive and fruitful life? By dying to yourself daily.

DL Moody said the world has yet to see what God can do with one person who is totally surrendered to Him. Today, kneel and pray, ‘Lord, take me, shake me, break me, and make me what You want me to be.’ That’s a prayer He will answer.

SoulFood: Job 15–17, Luke 17:20–37, Ps 19, Pro 8:6–7

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘My suffering was good for me, …’ Psalm 11 9:71 NLT

God uses problems, pressures, and people to prune you for greater fruitfulness. Are you aware of Him using any of these three things in your life today? God can use all situations in your life to help you grow if you will just have the right attitude. He will use a major frustration, a financial setback, a sudden sickness, a broken marriage, a rebellious child, or even the death of a loved one to get your attention. You say, ‘But it hurts so much!’ Yes, pruning is painful. Sometimes a gardener will prune a tree until it looks like a totem pole or a giant toothpick. It’s not a pretty sight. But the pruning process is positive. God is not mad at you. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, …’ (Romans 8:1 NKJV). God does not punish His genuine children. Jesus took your punishment on the cross. God’s pruning is for your best, for more fruitfulness in your life. Can God’s pruning fail to produce? Sure, if you don’t cooperate. How does God produce ‘… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’ in your life? (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). He produces these qualities by allowing you to face situations and people with exactly the opposite qualities. He teaches you to love by putting you around difficult people. He teaches you patience by letting things frustrate you. You say, ‘How can I cooperate with God?’ The Bible tells you: ‘Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT).

SoulFood: Num 34-36, Matt 13:1-9, Ps 138, Pro 4:14-17

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

‘But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”’ Luke 1 3:12 NKJV

The Bible says: ‘There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity”’ (Luke 13:11-12 NKJV). Notice four things in this story: the person, the problem, the Great Physician, and the prescription. For every person, including you, there will be a problem. But more importantly, for every problem, including yours, the Great Physician has a prescription. Jesus’ opening statement to the problem in this woman’s life is not a recommendation for counselling; it’s a challenging command: ‘You are loosed!’ Christian counsellors are a gift from God, but often more is involved in maintaining deliverance than just discussing past trauma. Jesus didn’t counsel what should have been commanded. After you have analysed the condition and understood its origin, it will take the authority of God’s Word to put the past under your feet! This woman was suffering as the result of something that had attacked her eighteen years earlier, yet her trauma was as fresh that day as it was the day it occurred. But while her problem was rooted in the past, her prescription could only be found in the present word from God. Jesus, who is the Living Word, is ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV). That is to say, the word you are hearing today is able to heal your yesterday! Jesus said, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ Why didn’t Jesus call her by name? Because His promise applies to all of us.

SoulFood: Exo 20:14, Pro 6:23-35, Matt 5:27-30, 1 Cor 6:9-20

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

‘…He who comes to God must believe that…He is a rewarder…’ Hebrews 11:6 NAS

Christopher Pylant’s parents refused to believe there was no hope for their son who’d been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. After studying the x–rays, neurosurgeon Ben Carson told them, ‘There’s no way I can encourage you.’ ‘The experts told us that in Georgia,’ the mother replied, ‘but God led us to Baltimore and said there’s a doctor here who can help him. We believe you’re that doctor.’ Carson replied, ‘I’ll do my best,’ praying for a miracle. When he operated, Christopher’s brain stem looked like it had been consumed by cancer, and without that there’s no real life. In the waiting room he told the Pylants, ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t help your son. We’ve all prayed but sometimes God works in ways we don’t understand.’ They never wavered, saying, ‘God’s going to heal our son. We’re standing on His promise.’ Carson admired their faith, but the evidence was irrefutable. For three days little Christopher was in a coma, but his eyes were focusing and his physical movements improved. Following another scan Carson re-operated, and after removing the cancerous mass in layers and cleaning out the crevices, there it was—a healthy brain stem, distorted, but intact! Taking their son home a month later, his parents and the doctor thanked God together for a miracle. ‘…He who comes to God must believe that… He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’ The neurosurgeon said, ‘As they walked out of the hospital that day… glory shone on their faces, and I heard my mother telling me again, “If you ask God for something believing He’ll do it… He’ll do it.”’

SoulFood: Est 5–10, Matt 26:65–75, Ps 18:1–29, Pro 26:24–27

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©