The Daily Word: Saturday, August 31^st, 2019
Job 37:1-39:30
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10
Psalm 44:9-26
Proverbs 22:13
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” – Prov 22:13

The potential for danger does not excuse you from taking action. Faith means making a decision that the reward for stepping out on God’s Word far outweighs the risk. Today’s verse says that to say no because you are afraid is not just silly; it is lazy. If God is calling you to do it, ask for the faith to get up and go! If you know it is Him, put in the work by spending time in prayer so that the things you do with God will be blessed.

When Jesus called Peter out on the water, Peter didn’t say “But there might be sharks in there!” He said, ““Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matt 14:28). Jesus answered, and Peter went.

What is God calling you to do that you are afraid of? It is far better to step out with God, than to stay still without Him.

Prayer:

Father, make me bold and courageous! Remove in me any laziness that stems from fear. I want to step out on Your Word in faith, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, August 30^th, 2019
Job 34:1-36:33
2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 22:10-12
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. – 2 Cor 4:3-4

Satan is the god of this age. You have a constant enemy whose job is to “blind you.” Satan wants to pull the wool over your eyes, and convince you God is not good! He wants to make you numb to the countless ways God has preserved and promoted you, by instead proposing that God has not moved fast enough on your behalf.

But Scripture does us the amazing service of telling us what Satan is up to! You don’t have to wonder if Satan wants to blind you; you get to know his strategy in advance, so you can be prepared.

Resist him, and he will flee (Jas 4:7). Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2). A mind filled with God’s Word cannot be blinded! You have God’s Holy Spirit, and you have His Word! And that is all you need to mount the most effective resistance until victory arrives.

Prayer:

Father, make me wise! I know the devil is cunning and crafty; but I am filled with Your Spirit. I have the strength I need to resist him. I have the ears I need to hear what he is planning! Thank You that there is not a single thing the enemy is trying to do, for which You are not prepared, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, August 29^th, 2019
Job 31:1-33:33
2 Corinthians 3:1-18
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 22:8-9
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” – Job 31:1

What a hidden gem in the Book of Job! When you get married, the covenant you make with your wife not only includes your body, your soul, and all your possessions; it also includes your eyes. You may have heard it said that your eyes are the window to your soul. Scripture says that your eyes are the “lamp of the body” (Matt 6:22). That means that whatever you look at will become your desire.

When you get married (i.e. enter into covenant), you lose the right to even look at another woman. Seems harsh doesn’t it? But it’s true. Affairs and adultery don’t just “happen.” They start with a look. Just a glance! They start with the mindset that says, “It’s okay to look, as long as I don’t talk.” Which turns into, “It’s okay to flirt, as long as I don’t touch.” Which inevitably leads to, “It’s okay just this once.” Do you see the slippery slope?

Guard your eyes. When a “younger woman” (i.e. something that seems more appetizing than what you currently have on your plate) walks by, look up to Heaven! Thank Jesus for your beautiful wife (and your job, house, or any other area of your life where you’re struggling with lust). If you only “look upon” what you have, you’ll never be tempted by something you don’t.

Prayer:

Father, help me to guard my eyes. When I’m tempted to look at something that’s not mine, help me to look to You! I want to guard my eyes with all my heart, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Wednesday, August 28^th, 2019
Job 28:1-30:31
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 22:7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price.” – Job 28:12, 15

Wisdom cannot be purchased! It must be received. And the best way to gain wisdom is by spending time in the presence of God.

You don’t need a diploma, a certificate of completion, or any other earthly accolade to be wise. You need only sit at the feet of Jesus: to hear His voice, and do what He says.

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ” – Job 28:28

Prayer:

Father, make me wise! I know wisdom comes from You alone. I want to sit at Your feet and glean everything You have for me, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Tuesday, August 27^th, 2019
Job 23:1-27:23
2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 22:5-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Job answered and said: “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat!” – Job 23:1-3

Job was frustrated. He was bitter because he didn’t know where to find God. He wanted an answer! Why was his life falling apart?! But he didn’t know how to get it.

Under the New Covenant, we know exactly where to find God. Job didn’t have a way to God’s “seat” (v 3; referring to the Mercy Seat); but you and I do! When you find Jesus, you have found the Father! Jesus and His Father are one (Jn 10:30); so as you sit at the feet of Jesus, you are afforded direct communication with God.

Jesus made a way where there was no way. With His death, Jesus purchased access for you into God’s presence. Come to Him; and leave with full confidence that everything God has promised, He will perform.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – Jn 14:15-16

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Jesus is the Way. Whenever I need You, all I have to do is go to Jesus. Thank You that I never have to cry out like Job, wondering where You are! I can always find You because I have Jesus.

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

The Daily Word: Monday, August 26^th, 2019
Job 20:1-22:30
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 22:2-4
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia… – 2 Cor 1:1

The Apostle Paul wrote is letter to “the church of God.” The church doesn’t belong to the people in it; it belongs to God. That is the beauty of the body. It doesn’t belong to us; it belongs to Him! Your church is not “your” church. It is not “your pastor’s” church. It is God’s church!

When you go to church, you are not going to honor the people in the building; you are going to honor God. When you give to church, you are not giving to support an operating budget; you are giving to honor God! When you serve in church, you are not only serving the vision and mission of your church; you are serving God!

Thanks be to God for His church! We are blessed that He has made us part of it.

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember that the church does not exist for me; it exists for You. Yes I have a part to play; but the part You call me to play is worship unto You! Help me never to be selfish with my life or calling. Everything I do, I do for You, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, August 25^th, 2019
Job 16:1-19:29
1 Corinthians 16:1-24
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 22:1
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. – 1 Cor 16:2

Paul expected the church at Corinth to give. He made no apologies for that. “Now concerning the collection for the saints [at Jerusalem], as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must also do” (v 1). The church leaders at Jerusalem had poured out their lives in service to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Paul thought it proper to honor “spiritual things” with “material things:”

If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? – 1 Cor 9:11

But Paul didn’t want the church’s giving to always be centered around a special offering or a specific need; he wanted it to be part of their weekly rhythm. He was asking the early church to get in the habit of giving.

When we get in the habit of giving, we learn to cling loosely to the things of this world. We condition ourselves to value “true riches” more than “unrighteous mammon” (Lk 16:11). The result will be greater trust: God will know He can trust you with more (both spiritually and materially speaking), because you have proved to be a good steward over what you already have.

The early church made a habit of giving. Have you?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always providing for me. Thank You for filling me up to the point of overflow, so I can pour out into others. I am so grateful, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Saturday, August 24^th, 2019
Job 12:1-15:35
1 Corinthians 15:29-58
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 21:30-31
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
I am one mocked by his friends… – Job 12:4a

Job needed deliverance! But his friends provided theology. He needed to experience a powerful move of God in his life! But his friends only brought their own limited understanding of God’s faithfulness to the table.

Knowledge is important; but what you need more than anything else is the power of God. It is His power that opens blind eyes. It is His power that sets captives free! It is His power that will bring new life into this broken, hurting world!

Don’t settle for just a ministry of words, when God has anointed you to receive His power.

…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. – Acts 10:38

Prayer:

Father, I want the mark of my ministry to be power. When I speak, I ask that You would move. When I pray, I ask that You would respond! Thank You for Your hand on my life, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, August 23^rd, 2019
Job 8:1-11:20
1 Corinthians 15:1-28
Psalm 38:1-22
Proverbs 21:28-29
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. – Job 11:6b

Zophar was Job’s friend! But he gave Job some bad advice. He should have been supporting Job. But instead, the central theme of his message to his “friend” was, “Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.” In other words, he was saying, “Job, you deserve this.”

In fact, Job didn’t deserve his suffering. Job was righteous and blameless before God (Job 1:1, 8)! But whenever someone else goes through the wringer, our first tendency is to judge them. We assume they messed up. We assume they are getting what they deserve! Surely, we say, they must have done something to put themselves in that situation. We assume that the disaster that has just hit them can never hit us!

But the moment you point a finger and say, “That would never happen to me,” is the moment you make yourself the enemy’s next target. Pride says, “You deserve it” to someone else. But humility says, “I deserve it too.” You see, the problem with judging someone else is, you are just as sinful! Scripture says that we have all sinned (Rom 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)! All of us “deserve” calamity; and that is where Jesus comes in. He took our death and destruction on the Cross, so that you and I could walk free.

When you see someone really going through it: pray for them instead of judging them. You reap what you sow; and by withholding judgment, you will withhold yourself from judgment down the road.

Prayer:

Father, help me not to judge the people around me who are facing accusations and going through tribulations. I know I am guilty; but Jesus died to make me innocent. Without the Cross, I am nothing; but because of the Cross, I am free!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, August 22^nd, 2019
Job 4:1-7:21
1 Corinthians 14:18-40
Psalm 37:30-40
Proverbs 21:27
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me? – Job 6:12-13

Are you going through a tough time? Your strength is within you. When you gave your life to Jesus, His Holy Spirit made a home inside of you. The Holy Spirit is your helper. He is your friend! He is your strength! He knows everything you need to know, and He can do everything you need to do!

Don’t look to an external source of strength. You don’t need a conference, a new prophetic word, or even a podcast. The Kingdom of God is within you (Lk 17:21)! Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you, from the inside out, and be filled with motivation to overcome like never before!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit! Thank You that my help – the Helper! – is within me. There is zero separation between my life and Your Holy Spirit; and that means victory is on the way, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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