The Daily Word: Thursday, May 31^st, 2018
2 Samuel 17:1-29
John 19:23-42
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 16:12-13
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. – Jn 19:26-27

Does convenience ever stand between you and God’s will? Have you ever said no to what God is asking you to do in a given moment because it’s not convenient?

Following Jesus is not convenient. Taking up your cross (Lk 9:23) will not fit effortlessly into your otherwise unchanged life. Discipleship requires adjustment. Loving Jesus requires forsaking all else!

Convenience can be a curse that interferes with God’s best for your life. It was undoubtedly inconvenient for John to take Jesus’ mother into his home; but he did it because Jesus asked him to. Are you willing to put your convenience aside – and put your own plans on hold – to do what God has called you to do?

Prayer:

Father, free me from the curse of convenience. I want to value obedience over convenience, every day of my life, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 30^th, 2018
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 16:10-11
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.” – 2 Sam 15:25

David fled from his son Absalom. The priests followed David out of Jerusalem, carrying the ark of the covenant of God with them. But David stopped them. “Carry the ark of God back into the city,” he said.

David knew God’s presence belonged with His people; not just with their ruler. He was unwilling to monopolize God’s presence, and insisted that all of God’s people should have access to His presence. It wasn’t that David didn’t want the presence of God; he simply knew that God longs to be among His people.

If you are a spiritual leader, your holy responsibility is to make sure every person knows (s)he has access to God’s presence! We don’t need intermediaries to go to God on our behalf! Because of the Cross, we get to “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb 4:16). You get to go to God yourself! God’s presence is meant to be enjoyed by all His people. We must tell others how good God is, and invite them into His presence to see for themselves!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for time in Your presence. You have truly transformed me! Now, give me the strength to go out and tell others about Your presence, so they can come in and be transformed themselves!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, May 29^th, 2018
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
John 18:1-24
Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 16:8-9
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” – Jn 18:11

Judas arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. He came with a “detachment” of troops (v 3), which Biblical scholars estimate would mean 600 soldiers. Jesus could have stopped the arrest: if He had simply given the command, an army of angels would have arrived! Peter wanted to stop the arrest: he drew his sword and “struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear” (v 10). The easy way out would have been to fight; but Jesus chose to embrace His destiny instead.

When God calls you to do something, are you willing to do it? Jesus could have easily broken free; but He knew God’s will was for Him to be detained. Jesus knew His Father’s will was for Him to die on the Cross. Sometimes laying down your weapon and accepting God’s will is more courageous than fighting!

Jesus refused to take the easy way out. What God wanted was far more important than what He wanted. When God calls you to accept His will, will you lay down your weapons, open up your arms, and embrace His calling with everything you’ve got?

Prayer:

Father, I don’t want to fight Your will anymore. I receive Your calling over my life. I accept the role You have given me to play. I want to be used by You, so that heaven can come to earth, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, May 28^th, 2018
2 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 16:6-7
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. – Ps 119:89

We live in an uncertain world where change is the only constant. Friends come and go. Jobs change, and careers evolve. Markets rise and fall: sometimes we find ourselves in financial difficulty, and at other times we find ourselves with more than enough.

Things change here on earth! But the word of God never changes. No matter what happens in life, God’s word stands firm in heaven. God is the same “yesterday, today, and forevermore” (Heb 13:8)! No matter how much life changes, our God never does!

You don’t have to put your trust in people who might change their minds, or job security that might fade away. You get to trust in a God who never changes. He loves you: He always has, and He always will. He is for you: He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is constant, and that means you never have to fear!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being constant. Thank You for standing firm on Your promises. Help me to trust You with my whole heart, because You never change, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, May 27^th, 2018
2 Samuel 12:1-31
John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 16:4-5
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. – 2 Sam 12:20

David’s son was dead. David had pleaded with God to save his son. He fasted and “lay all night on the ground” (v 16), refusing to rise and talk with anyone. But even after all that, it looked like God didn’t answer his prayer.

So how did David respond? He worshiped. He wasn’t mad at God because he didn’t get what he wanted. He didn’t doubt God’s goodness because God hadn’t responded to his prayer with the answer David expected. David responded to his calamity with worship!

When things don’t go your way, what do you do? God blessed David because he was always willing to worship. Will you make the same commitment in your own life?

Prayer:

Father, remind me to worship at all times! When You give me the answer to my prayers, I will worship. When it feels like the answer isn’t coming, I will worship. Even in the face of death, I will worship! Strengthen me to worship You: at all times, with all that I am, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, May 26^th, 2018
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 16:1-3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. – Jn 15:12-13

What does it mean to love like Jesus? Jesus laid down His life for us. He willingly chose death so that we could have life. He willingly chose shame so that we could enjoy glory. In one infinite moment, He endured an eternity of separation from God on the Cross, so that you and I could be with God for all eternity!

Loving like Jesus means laying your life down for your friends. Loving like Jesus means putting other people’s best interests ahead of your own. Loving like Jesus means giving up your life for someone else’s good, even if they don’t love you back!

Loving like Jesus might seem impossible; but the Holy Spirit filled you to do the impossible! Are you ready to love like Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit for help. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus to love us, empowers us to love others!

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matt 19:26

Prayer:

Father, help me to love like Jesus. Help me to love other people, even when they don’t love me back. Strengthen me to lay down my life for others, even when it means my own harm! Jesus did it for me; and now I want to do it for others, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, May 25^th, 2018
2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 15:33
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…” – Jn 14:16

Life is hard. You have more to do than time will allow. You have people to please and never enough time for yourself! Life can be exhausting. Life can be difficult!

So don’t do life alone. Jesus promised to give you His Holy Spirit, the Helper, to “abide with you forever.” That means that on your best day, He is with you; and on your worst day, He is still with you!

You can do this, because the Holy Spirit will help. Rely on God all the more. Don’t go one more day trying to do everything yourself. Ask God for help, and let His Holy Spirit do the work!

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. – Rom 8:11

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. I am so grateful for His presence in my life. I know that because Jesus died, Your Holy Spirit lives in me!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, May 24^th, 2018
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.” – 2 Sam 5:1

This is how David stepped into his destiny. All the tribes of Israel came to David and asked him to be king over them! He didn’t have to make himself king. He didn’t have to take the throne by force! He simply waited for his enemies – the wicked men in his life – to fall, and God brought the throne to him.

David didn’t gain the throne through self-promotion. He didn’t have to apply for the position God had already promised! He simply waited for his future to come to pass – acting with wisdom and righteousness all along the way – and everything unfolded exactly as God had promised.

Don’t force your destiny. Don’t strive to make it happen! Trust God. Be available to move when He says move! But also be willing to rest when He says rest.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the amazing destiny You have promised me. I know it will come to pass! Help me to wait in faith – never taking anything into my own hands – until it comes, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 23^rd, 2018
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. – 2 Sam 3:1

This was a long war. The house of Saul and the house of David were continually killing each other. But notice that while the enemy grew weaker in battle, God’s people actually grew stronger! The battle was inevitable; but who grew weaker and who grew stronger was decided by who valued the presence of God!

Your life is a battle. You are the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21); but the enemy seeks to dethrone you from your position of righteousness. Don’t let him. Even if the battle rages on, know that you will get stronger – and never weaker – from the fight!

Prayer:

Father, I am asking You to revive my spirit. Thank You that even as the battle rages on, I will get stronger and never weaker. I receive Your strength, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, May 22^nd, 2018
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. – 2 Sam 1:12

Saul was dead! But David didn’t rejoice; he mourned. This was the man who had been trying to kill David for years! So why would he mourn? After all, now that Saul was out of the picture, this was finally David’s chance to be king!

But for David, Saul’s death was not a victory; it was a tragedy. The people had lost a leader, and David had lost a father. David was selfless. He didn’t analyze the situation and immediately ascertain what he could gain from Saul’s downfall. He valued the well-being of God’s people more than his own. And it was exactly this selfless attitude that would make him such a great king!

Are you ready to lead like David? To value the mission of the kingdom more than you value personal gain?

Prayer:

Father, make me a selfless leader! I want to be like David. I want to value other people above myself. I want to put the future of others in higher esteem than my own!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.