   If you use a computer, you know what the 'Save' button is. To save a created document, you just press the save button. Words on the screen descend into the core of the machine. As long as the words are only limited to the screen, they are vulnerable to be erased and lost forever. Only once we save our work, it is safe. 

   Question: are you clicking the save button on Scripture? You save truth when you deliberately allow what you've read or heard to become part of who you are. Jesus said, 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' (John 8:32 GWT). As you know (save) truth, the truth frees you from guilt, fear, pride, anger, etc. Saved truth has a shaping, reconfiguring impact on your heart. Only when you allow the truth of Scripture to be the authority in your life will you prove that it works. How do you do this? Begin with a prayer: 'God, please speak to my heart today as I read your word.' Then with an open heart, read until a message hits you, and you will receive great rewards. God told Joshua if he did this, he would make his way 'prosperous' (see Joshua 1:8). 

   The promise of prosperity includes finances, but it also refers to a wealthy spirit, mind and body. God prospers a leader with new skills, a worker with good sleep, a teacher with added patience, a mother with deeper affection, and an elderly person with greater hope. So click the save button!





— SCRIPTURE —

    'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' John 8:32 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

    John 1:1-5, Matt 5:14-16, 1 John 1:1-10
    

If you use a computer, you know what the 'Save' button is. To save a created document, you just press the save button. Words on the screen descend into the core of the machine. As long as the words are only limited to the screen, they are vulnerable to be erased and lost forever. Only once we save our work, it is safe. Question: are you clicking the save button on Scripture? You save truth when you deliberately allow what you've read or heard to become part of who you are. Jesus said, 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' (John 8:32 GWT). As you know (save) truth, the truth frees you from guilt, fear, pride, anger, etc. Saved truth has a shaping, reconfiguring impact on your heart. Only when you allow the truth of Scripture to be the authority in your life will you prove that it works. How do you do this? Begin with a prayer: 'God, please speak to my heart today as I read your word.' Then with an open heart, read until a message hits you, and you will receive great rewards. God told Joshua if he did this, he would make his way 'prosperous' (see Joshua 1:8). The promise of prosperity includes finances, but it also refers to a wealthy spirit, mind and body. God prospers a leader with new skills, a worker with good sleep, a teacher with added patience, a mother with deeper affection, and an elderly person with greater hope. So click the save button!
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' John 8:32 GWT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 John 1:1-5, Matt 5:14-16, 1 John 1:1-10

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;

The Word For Today

Click the save button

   If you make wise decisions now, you'll have a better future. If you waste your time now, you'll have regrets. That's why you need to do the right thing when you have the opportunity to do it. Paul wrote: 'Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us' (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). God is able to do great things as his power works through you. So it's not just about God doing things for you; he also wants to do things through you. 

   Stop wishing your life would change, and start taking action! Pray and study God's Word. And as he speaks to your heart, step out in faith and do what he leads you to do. God created you to live on purpose, for a purpose! He hasn't just called you to be busy - he's also called you to bear good fruit (see John 15:16). 

   It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. But you need to take time out to think about how you're spending your time! Before you go to sleep, reflect on the things that filled your day: which of them fulfilled God's plan and purpose and which of them were a distraction? Ask God to reveal the things that need to change and ways you can make better choices that line up with his wisdom. Then lean on him for the strength you need to make those changes. If you do, you'll be fulfilled, peaceful, and excited about how God is working in your life.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Be very careful, then, how you live.' Ephesians 5:15 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

    2 Ki 10-12, Luke 14:15-24, Ps 106:1-23, Pro 7:1-2
    

If you make wise decisions now, you'll have a better future. If you waste your time now, you'll have regrets. That's why you need to do the right thing when you have the opportunity to do it. Paul wrote: 'Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us' (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). God is able to do great things as his power works through you. So it's not just about God doing things for you; he also wants to do things through you. Stop wishing your life would change, and start taking action! Pray and study God's Word. And as he speaks to your heart, step out in faith and do what he leads you to do. God created you to live on purpose, for a purpose! He hasn't just called you to be busy - he's also called you to bear good fruit (see John 15:16). It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. But you need to take time out to think about how you're spending your time! Before you go to sleep, reflect on the things that filled your day: which of them fulfilled God's plan and purpose and which of them were a distraction? Ask God to reveal the things that need to change and ways you can make better choices that line up with his wisdom. Then lean on him for the strength you need to make those changes. If you do, you'll be fulfilled, peaceful, and excited about how God is working in your life.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Be very careful, then, how you live.' Ephesians 5:15 NIV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 2 Ki 10-12, Luke 14:15-24, Ps 106:1-23, Pro 7:1-2

Live on purpose, for a purpose

   Paul writes, 'By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God' (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV). Why did Paul say we are saved through grace alone? Because trying to obtain salvation by keeping the law sets you up for failure. 'If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all' (James 2:10 CEV). You say, 'That's an impossible standard!' You're right! The law is like an X-ray machine; it can reveal what's under the surface and identify the problem, but it can't fix it. The law is also like a mirror. It can tell you that you need to apply make-up, or shave or comb your hair, but it can't do these things for you. In other words, the law can show you your problem but can't solve it. 

   But what the law could not do, Jesus did on the cross (see Romans 8:3). When Jesus said, 'It is finished' (John 19:30 NIV), all your sins from the cradle to the grave were atoned for. And when you put your trust in him, you are saved for time and eternity. 

   Some people acknowledge that we are made right with God by grace, through putting our trust in Jesus. But, they believe we maintain our salvation by keeping the works of the law. The problem is, even on our best day, we cannot live up to all the demands of a perfect God. The hymnist wrote, 'Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting him whate'er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all!'





— SCRIPTURE —

    'You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.' Ephesians 2:8 NCV
— SOULFOOD —

    2 Ki 7-9, Luke 14:1-14, Ps 136:13-26, Pro 6:32-35
    

Paul writes, 'By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God' (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV). Why did Paul say we are saved through grace alone? Because trying to obtain salvation by keeping the law sets you up for failure. 'If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all' (James 2:10 CEV). You say, 'That's an impossible standard!' You're right! The law is like an X-ray machine; it can reveal what's under the surface and identify the problem, but it can't fix it. The law is also like a mirror. It can tell you that you need to apply make-up, or shave or comb your hair, but it can't do these things for you. In other words, the law can show you your problem but can't solve it. But what the law could not do, Jesus did on the cross (see Romans 8:3). When Jesus said, 'It is finished' (John 19:30 NIV), all your sins from the cradle to the grave were atoned for. And when you put your trust in him, you are saved for time and eternity. Some people acknowledge that we are made right with God by grace, through putting our trust in Jesus. But, they believe we maintain our salvation by keeping the works of the law. The problem is, even on our best day, we cannot live up to all the demands of a perfect God. The hymnist wrote, 'Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting him whate'er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all!'
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.' Ephesians 2:8 NCV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 2 Ki 7-9, Luke 14:1-14, Ps 136:13-26, Pro 6:32-35

Trust in Jesus alone!

   Each time David saw Goliath's armour hanging in his tent, it was a sacred reminder of God's faithfulness to him and of God's power that was available to him. The word remember recurs almost 250 times in Scripture. And there is a reason why. We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. That's why God tells us to build altars or make memorials. Jacob built an altar at Bethel, where God gave him a life-changing dream (see Genesis 28:18-22). The Israelites took twelve stones from the river Jordan and used them to build a miracle altar in Gilgal, reminding them of how God miraculously parted the waters for them (see Joshua 4:20-24). Samuel built a victory altar at Mizpah called 'Ebenezer' after God answered his prayer and marshalled the forces of nature to supernaturally defeat the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 7:12). 

   Without sacred reminders, we could forget the spiritual lessons we have learned along the way. The Bible records the literal weight of Goliath's armour: 5,000 shekels of brass or 56.7 kilograms. Every time David took down his tent and pitched it somewhere else, the armour went with him. Why? Because it was a daily reminder of God's faithfulness to him. It was also a great confidence builder. Whatever the future held, David knew that with God's help he could handle it. 

   There are two lessons here: first, if God did it for David, he will do it for you; second, if God did it before, he can do it again.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'David...kept Goliath's armour in his tent.' 1 Samuel 17:54 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

    2 Ki 4:18-6:33, Luke 13:18-35, Ps 136:1-12, Pro 6:30-31
    

Each time David saw Goliath's armour hanging in his tent, it was a sacred reminder of God's faithfulness to him and of God's power that was available to him. The word remember recurs almost 250 times in Scripture. And there is a reason why. We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. That's why God tells us to build altars or make memorials. Jacob built an altar at Bethel, where God gave him a life-changing dream (see Genesis 28:18-22). The Israelites took twelve stones from the river Jordan and used them to build a miracle altar in Gilgal, reminding them of how God miraculously parted the waters for them (see Joshua 4:20-24). Samuel built a victory altar at Mizpah called 'Ebenezer' after God answered his prayer and marshalled the forces of nature to supernaturally defeat the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 7:12). Without sacred reminders, we could forget the spiritual lessons we have learned along the way. The Bible records the literal weight of Goliath's armour: 5,000 shekels of brass or 56.7 kilograms. Every time David took down his tent and pitched it somewhere else, the armour went with him. Why? Because it was a daily reminder of God's faithfulness to him. It was also a great confidence builder. Whatever the future held, David knew that with God's help he could handle it. There are two lessons here: first, if God did it for David, he will do it for you; second, if God did it before, he can do it again.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'David...kept Goliath's armour in his tent.' 1 Samuel 17:54 GWT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 2 Ki 4:18-6:33, Luke 13:18-35, Ps 136:1-12, Pro 6:30-31

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