UCB Word For Today

When Moses sent Caleb to spy out the Promised Land, Caleb saw something that troubled him: the town of Hebron. Abraham buried his wife there. He was buried there. So were Isaac and Jacob. Hebron was a sacred site. Now it was inhabited by their enemies, and it bothered Caleb. It was more than he could take, so he asked Moses for Hebron. He didn’t ask for Jerusalem, perched on Mount Moriah; or the Valley of Eschol, where grapes grew as large as plums; or Jericho, where the Jordan River flowed. He wanted Hebron, whose soil had known the visitation of angels and whose earth entombed the holiest family. ‘Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb.’ Caleb wanted to do something great for God. He lived with a higher call. Perhaps the reason your problems feel so great is that your call is too small. Max Lucado tells of a doctor friend who makes regular medical trips to a remote jungle clinic to treat the disadvantaged. He’s a retired surgeon with ample income. He could spend every day of his life in ease and luxury. But he focuses on supporting the health clinic for his own good: ‘I need a cause that is greater than cable TV and Cadillacs,’ he said. ‘If I focus on my comfort, nothing can satisfy me. But when I focus on the concerns of God, I am a happy man.’ Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? Ask God to give you a ‘Hebron’ to claim for His glory.

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

There is a little phrase repeated 436 times in the Bible: ‘It came to pass.’ Whatever trial you are going through today, remind yourself, ‘It came to pass – not stay.’ If the fulfilment of the vision God gave you seems to be taking longer than you thought, remind yourself ‘it will come to pass’! In his biography, God in My Corner, the two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman tells a story about an elderly woman who was asked her favourite Scripture verse. She replied: ‘And it came to pass.’ She explained why: ‘I know that whenever a trial comes, it doesn’t come to stay; it comes – to pass.’ And the Scripture on the flip side of this coin reads: ‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion’ (Philippians 1:6 NIV). In other words, He will bring it to pass! Either way, God always finishes what He starts. ‘The vision is yet for an appointed time…Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come [to pass]’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). Battling an illness that threatened his life, and enemies who wanted to take his throne, David turned to the Lord for help. And God didn’t disappoint him. Read these two Scriptures and stand on them: ‘Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning’ (Psalm 30:5 NLT). ‘You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!’ (Psalm 30:11-12 NLT).

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

Nearly all key relationships in your life can be broken down into three categories: confidants, constituents, and comrades. Let’s look at each. 1) Confidants. These are the people whose relationships with you are lifelong. They love you unconditionally, stand by you, and have your back in good times and bad. Your best interest is their number-one priority. They never seek to use what they know about you for their own gain or throw your secrets back in your face. Paul said concerning Timothy: ‘I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character’ (Philippians 2:20-22 NKJV). 2) Constituents. These people share the same goals, values, and principles you have, but they aren’t always there for you. But having constituents in your life is important. They contribute energy, passion, and enthusiasm. And you can work with them to accomplish common goals and build bridges. Just be sure not to expect constituents to have the loyalty of confidants. They are with you for a reason and a season, and then they move on. 3) Comrades. These are the people who are attracted to you because of what they are against. They may not get to know you, or even like you, but on the field of battle, they join you as soldiers to defeat a common enemy. Once the fight is over, the relationship ends or at least cools. Your only bond is your common enemy. So get to know who’s in your life: confidants, constituents, and comrades.

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

More than a hundred years ago, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, spoke prophetically when he said, ‘The chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.’ That’s as true now as it was then. Paul exhorted the leaders of the Ephesian church to declare, ‘The whole counsel of God.’ He said: ‘Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears’ (vv. 28-31 NKJV). On the eve of his execution, Paul passed the baton to his successor Timothy with these words: ‘Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables…be watchful…fulfil your ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:2-5 NKJV).

The Bible says, ‘A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And…the tongue is a flame of fire’ (vv. 5-6 NLT). People living in hot climates know the danger of ravaging bushfires driven by desert winds and can readily identify with these words: ‘See how great a forest a little fire kindles!’ (v. 5 NKJV). A single spark from a match has started many massive fires. Spreading faster and farther than we might ever imagine, that kind of fire destroys homes and businesses worth millions of pounds, leaving a scorched landscape and devastated lives. Similarly, how many reputations have been ruined by a careless word? The impact of our words spreads far and fast, especially in our digital age. A word tweeted anywhere can be retweeted all over the world in seconds. Like a fire, that word can get out of control and do irreparable damage. Hence James wrote: ‘No man can tame the tongue’ (v. 8 NKJV). But God can. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). The Holy Spirit can take a tongue that peddles gossip and turn it into one that brings glory to God. He can take a tongue that spews bitterness and turn it into one that speaks blessing. Gossip is saying something behind someone’s back that you would never say to that person’s face. Flattery is saying something to someone’s face that you would never say behind the person’s back. And both are wrong. So let’s join the psalmist in praying: ‘May these words of my mouth…be pleasing in your sight, LORD’ (Psalm 19:14 NIV).

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