UCB Word For Today

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and says, ‘Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do’ (vv. 12-13 NCV). Consider these twenty-first-century statistics: 1) Fifty per cent of pastors feel so disheartened that they would exit the ministry if they could, but they don’t know any other way to make a living. 2) Fifty per cent of ministers starting out won’t continue five years in the ministry. 3) Only one out of every ten ministers will retire as ministers in some capacity. 4) In America more than seventeen hundred pastors exited the ministry every month of 2011. There are many reasons why pastors leave the ministry. One reason is inadequate financial support and stress on the family. Paul addresses this: ‘Let the elders [pastors] who rule well be counted worthy of double honour [financial remuneration], especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer is worthy of his wages”’ (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV). Some pastors leave the ministry because they are the target of frequent criticism. Paul addresses this: ‘Do not receive an accusation against an elder [pastor] except from two or three witnesses’ (v. 19 NKJV). So, pray for your pastor, and make it a point to show them your appreciation. God will bless you for it. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Jesus, who was known in the Bible as ‘the Great Physician’, spent much of His ministry healing the sick. Read these four Scriptures: 1) ‘Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching…preaching the gospel… and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments…and He healed them’ (Matthew 4:23-25 NKJV). 2) ‘When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them…And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease’ (Matthew 9:36; 10:1 NKJV). 3) ‘When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognised Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well’ (Matthew 14:34-36 NKJV). 4) ‘A great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon… came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases…And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all’ (Luke 6:17-19 NKJV). Since Jesus Christ is ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever,’ that means you can pray with faith and confidence, believing God to heal you and your loved ones. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says: ‘The Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.” So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water”’ (vv. 9-11 NKJV). Notice how David likened God’s power to the bursting forth of waters. He is saying that when God shows up and releases His power, it will be like a flood of His goodness, His power, His favour, His healing, His wisdom, His resources, and whatever else you need. Think about how powerful water is: only a few feet of water can lift a huge car weighing thousands of pounds and push it all around. On the news we have seen entire houses and buildings carried downstream in torrents of water. Nothing can stop it. Nothing is allowed to stand in its way. And that’s what happens when God gives you a breakthrough and releases a flood of His power on your behalf. And God has not changed. His power has not diminished. ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You’ (Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV). God is able to move on your behalf. And He is willing – so ask Him for a breakthrough.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The Bible says: ‘While he was preaching…four men arrived carrying a paralysed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof…Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralysed man…“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”’ (vv. 2-5, 11-12 NLT). Notice the words ‘when Jesus saw their faith’ (NKJV). Do you have faith God can see? What are you doing to show God you truly believe Him and are taking Him at His Word? It’s important to pray and believe, but you must also do something to demonstrate your faith. For the four men who carried their sick friend to Jesus, demonstrating their faith meant refusing to let the crowd get in their way, or the roof stop them from getting to Jesus. Sometimes you are closest to your victory when you face your greatest obstacles or opposition. A lot of people give up too easily. You say, ‘I’ve tried, but nothing I have done has worked.’ You must be more determined than that. If you can’t get through the crowd, climb up and come down through the roof. Be relentless. That’s what these men did, and Jesus rewarded them with a miracle. And when you are willing to demonstrate a determined faith, He can do the same for you too. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

When Corrie ten Boom travelled the world sharing her experiences, she would often speak with her head down. She appeared to be reading notes, but she was actually stitching a needlepoint design. When she would finish telling her story of the atrocities she suffered from the Nazis, she would reveal the needlepoint she had been working on. She would first show the back side, which was just a tangle of coloured threads with no distinct pattern. And she would say, ‘That’s how we see our lives. Sometimes it makes no sense.’ Then she would flip the needlepoint over to unveil the finished side. And she would say, ‘This is how God views your life, and someday we will have the privilege of seeing it from His point of view.’ Then she would end her talk with this poem written by Grant Colfax Tullar, a minister: ‘My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me; I cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I, in foolish pride, forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skilful hand, as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.’ Paul writes, ‘Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.