The Daily Word: Friday, May 31^st, 2019
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:
Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. – Jn 19:27

Jesus didn’t have to tell John what to do; He only had to tell him whom to love. Jesus simply announced who Mary was, and John got the point. As soon as Jesus asked John to treat Mary as his “mother,” John knew exactly how to care for her. He knew exactly how to love her! He knew Jesus’ expectation was that he would lay his life down, and care for this woman as he would his own blood.

Who does Jesus day is your “mother?” Who does He day is your “brother?” Who does He say is your “neighbor?” To whom are you called? What people are you supposed to serve by laying down your life as a labor of love?

You don’t need to focus on what to do! First you need to know whom to love. Once you know whom God wants you to love, you will know exactly what to do.

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” – Matt 12:48-50

Prayer:

Father, show me my family. Show me my neighbors! Show me to whom I am called, and I will pour my life out in service to You, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, May 30^th, 2019
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:
“But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” – 2 Sqm 15:26

David was willing to accept the destiny God had for Him. He was willing to do whatever God asked! With one notable exception (2 Sam 11), David refused to abandon God’s agenda instead of his own. That is why God called David, “…a man after His own heart” (1 Sam 13:14).

Do you have divine acceptance of God’s plan for your life? Are you willing to open your heart to the Lord so God can examine your thoughts and intentions (Ps 26:2)? Do you openly disclose what you’re struggling with to God, so He can see if there is “any wicked way” in you, and “lead [you] in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:23)?

There is freedom in living a life of divine transparency before God. Today is the day. Make a decision to hide nothing from Him. Make a decision to give Him everything you’ve got! Let Him do to you as seems good to Him.

Prayer:

Father, I refuse to hide anything from You anymore. I give You my whole heart: all of my secrets, all of my ambitions, and all of my goals! Take it all, and make it new, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 29^th, 2019
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:
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. – Ps 119:98

Your enemies aren’t going anywhere. When the Psalmist penned the verse above, he was facing physical enemies. But your enemies are spiritual. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). Your enemy, Satan, comes to steal, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10). His mission – every single day – is to convince you to give up the position of righteousness that Jesus died for you to have!

But you don’t have to let him. You don’t have to be like a fish in a barrel, waiting for the enemy to shoot. God’s Word makes you “wiser than [your] enemies.” God’s Word shows you how the enemy is going to attack, so you can be pre-positioned and ready with a response!

You have enemies all around. But you also have the Word of God. You are also filled with God’s Holy Spirit! And because you have Him, you have everything you could ever need.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for protecting me. I know I don’t have to fear the enemy, because I have Your Word. I can know his strategies in advance! I can speak in tongues and be protected from what he’s doing. I can study Your Word and learn Heaven’s battle plan. Thank You for Your hand on my life, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, May 28^th, 2019
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:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. – Jn 17:3

Eternal life is knowing God. To “know” is the Greek ginosko (Strong’s G1097), which is to have deep knowledge of someone through an intimate encounter. Do you want to know what you are going to be doing in Heaven for all eternity? You will be knowing God: intimately encountering Him in an infinite number of different ways. You will learn something knew about just how good and awesome God is, every single day, for the rest of time!

But you don’t have to wait until you get to Heaven to know God. You can enjoy His presence here and now. You can get to know His heart and His character through His word. You can experience communication with Him through prayer! Aren’t you so glad you don’t have to wait until you get to Heaven to experience eternal life?

Eternal life starts here and now. Take some time today to practice for eternity: to know God, and be known by Him.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for knowing me! I want to know You. There is no more important or significant pursuit thank discovering who You are! Thank You for inviting me to know You, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, May 27^th, 2019
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’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!” – 2 Sam 12:5

Nathan recited David’s sins. David thought Nathan was talking about someone else, so his response was, “He deserves to die!” Nathan then told him the truth: David had just declared a death sentence over himself.

We are often quick to judge others, but slow to own up to our own mistakes. When someone else sins, we give them death! We take it as a serious indicator of a character flaw: a fatal error. But when we sin, we brush it off as a mistake that deserves forgiveness. Why do we give ourselves the benefit of the doubt, but rarely extend that same courtesy to others?

Judge others the same way you judge yourself. Give others the same forgiveness you so quickly offer yourself! God sees; and because of the Cross of Jesus Christ, He forgives. We should do the same for others in His name!

Prayer:

Father, make me slow to judge and slow to criticize. Help me to see others through the same filter as I see myself: deserving of grace and forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving me! Help me to forgive others, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, May 26^th, 2019
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:
So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” – 2 Sam 9:7

Mephibosheth has nothing left. Jonathan, his father, was dead. David summoned him out of nowhere. For all he knew, David was calling him to kill. It was customary practice for a new king to kill all the descendants of a prior king; so nobody would have batted an eye if David killed Mephibosheth as a descendant of Saul.

But David didn’t call Mephibosheth into his presence to punish him; he called him to bless him! His message to Mephibosheth was clear: there is nothing but blessing for you in the presence of the king! Mephibosheth went home blessed because of the covenant that David had with Jonathan, his father.

You have a covenant with God through Jesus Christ. That means that whenever you come into God’s presence in prayer, there is nothing but blessing for you in the presence of the King! You will go home blessed because of the covenant that you have with God through Jesus Christ.

Thank God for His uncommon kindness. Come to God, and expect the best! He will bless you far more than you deserve because you have a covenant with Him.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your covenant kindness. You are an amazing God. I don’t deserve the kindness and the favor You show me! But You show it to me all the same. I am forever grateful, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, May 25^th, 2019
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:  

Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. – 2 Sam 7:25

David had just received the most amazing promise of his life! He offered to build God a temple; and God’s response was, “God will make you [David] a house” (v 11). In response to David’s intention to honor God, God promised to make David’s descendants a royal dynasty!

But David had a role to play in the promise being fulfilled. David had to agree with God. He partnered with God to see His promise come to pass. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov 18:21). We can either cancel God’s promises through doubt and unbelief, or confirm them by spoken faith!

Has God told you what He is going to do? There is still action required! You have to affirm His word. You must promise to participate and value the life God wants to give you, and the process He wants to take you through.

God will do everything He has promised to do. Will you let Him?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making amazing promises over my life. I say yes and amen to them, right now, in Jesus’ name. I pray I would never be a roadblock to Your promises unfolding over my life. I say yes to Your best, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, May 24^th, 2019
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:
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. – 2 Sam 5:4

The reigning is always longer than the waiting. David was between the ages of 12 and 16 when Samuel first anointed him as king over Israel (1 Sam 16:13). David patiently waited years to sit on the throne! But once he became king, he would reign for the rest of his life.

Maybe your destiny is taking some time. Maybe it doesn’t seem worth it to wait any more. But no matter how long you’ve been waiting, remember this: the reigning is always longer than the waiting. God will make it worth it in the end.

Prayer:

Father, I trust You. My destiny is taking more time than I thought it would to unfold; but I know it is coming, in Jesus’ name! You will do it; and I am forever grateful.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, May 23^rd, 2019
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:
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. – Jn 13:5

Jesus knew God had “given all things into His hands” (v 3). He had “come from God and was going to God” (v 3). He cast out demons with a word (Matt 8:16). He raised men from the dead with a simple command (Jn 11:43).

Jesus had all power and all authority! So what did He do with it? He served. He spent His final moments as a free Man on Earth washing His disciples’ feet. His disciples were about to betray and abandon Him, and He knew it! Yet He served them, up until His last breath. And He did it to set an example for you and me.

You have been given His authority (Lk 10:19). You can, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, [and] cast out demons,” in Jesus’ name (Matt 10:8). But He didn’t give you His authority just to celebrate; He gave it to you to serve. What will you do with the authority Jesus has given you? Will you humbly use it to help others? Will you spend every moment up until your final breath on this earth washing the feet of people around you?

Prayer:

Father, help me to use my authority for good. I want to serve You! I want to save the lost. I know that can only happen when I get over my own agenda, and take up Yours instead. Help me to do it, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 22^nd, 2019
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:
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” – Jn 12:23-24

The path to fruitfulness is death to self. Jesus knew that unless He died, the world could not be saved. If He didn’t choose the Cross, He would have spent eternity without us. So He chose death. He chose to sow His life as a seed, so the world could become His harvest. He chose to give up His life, so we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

Where do you want to see more fruit (i.e. the tangible manifestation of the goodness of God) in your life? Where are you sick and tired of feeling “alone” (v 24)? In your career? In your family? In your finances? The path to fruitfulness is death. Die daily to “selfish ambition and conceit” (Phil 2:3). Lay down your life – your own plans – in favor of God’s! As you die to self and embrace God’s will for your life, you will start to see the fruit of abundant life.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be more fruitful! I recognize selfishness is never the way to fruitfulness. Help me to lay down my life so that others might be free, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.