The Daily Word: Saturday, November 30^th, 2019
Daniel 7:1-28
1 John 1:1-10
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 28:23-24
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. – Dan 7:10

There will be a judgment day. The Book of Life (Rev 20:15) will be opened, and your name will either be in it, or it will not. Digest that. If you are hidden with Christ (Col. 3), you will be welcomed into Heaven; but if you are not, you will not!

Why take the chance of not knowing exactly where you stand with God? Tomorrow is not guaranteed. You don’t want to meet God without first knowing Jesus! Invite Him into your heart today, and receive eternal life.

Prayer:

Father, I say yes to Jesus Christ. I welcome Him into my heart. I thank You that Heaven is now open to me because I know Jesus! And I receive the eternal life that He promised, in Jesus’ name. My name is now written in the Book of Life, and I am Heaven-bound.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, November 29^th, 2019
Daniel 6:1-28
2 Peter 3:1-18
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 28:21-22
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. – Dan 6:10

Wicked men convinced the King of Babylon to sign a law that made it illegal for anyone to pray to God. That was a problem for Daniel, because his practice was to get on his knees three times every day and “give thanks before his God” (v 10). Daniel knew his commitment to prayer could cost him his life. But he refused to stop praying. When he heard the law was signed, he went home and prayed, knowing he would be caught and put to death.

Daniel gave everything for prayer. Some days we don’t even pray because it will cost us a few minutes of our time! But Daniel refused to skip prayer even when it might cost him his life. What are you willing to give for prayer? Will you make a commitment to make your prayer time every day non-negotiable? Will you make a commitment to live a life of prayer, no matter the cost?

Jesus gave His life on the Cross so we could have access to God through prayer. Are you taking advantage of everything Jesus died for you to have?

Prayer:

Lord, make me committed to prayer like Daniel! I don’t ever want to skip prayer again, all the days of my life. Even if it costs me my life, I will pray!

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, November 28^th, 2019
Daniel 5:1-31
2 Peter 2:1-22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 28:19-20
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.” – Dan 5:17

The King of Babylon saw a vision from God and he needed an interpretation; so he called Daniel. The king knew Daniel was skilled in interpreting the word of the Lord, so he offered to pay Daniel for his services. But Daniel refused!

Daniel didn’t interpret the dream for King Belshazzar; he interpreted it so the whole kingdom of Babylon would come to know God! Daniel immediately rejected any earthly reward he was offered to exercise his God-given gifting. He knew the interpretation belonged to God anyway, so he refused to take any form of compensation!

Whatever you do: don’t do it for gold; do it for God’s glory! Don’t do it for the money; do it for God, with no ulterior motive! When you refuse to be rewarded by man, God will make sure you are rewarded in Heaven.

Prayer:

Father, help me to serve You for the right reasons. I don’t want to do anything for personal gain! I want to pour out my life to You, in Jesus’ name. I willingly forsake earthly reward, because I know my reward will be waiting for me in Heaven.

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

The Daily Word: Wednesday, November 27^th, 2019
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. – Ps 119:97

Do you love God’s Word? Do you meditate on it “all the day?” The Word of God brings life:

My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. – Prov 3:1-2

Is God’s Word the first thing your eyes settle on in the morning? Is His law the last thing your eyes see before you go to bed? Under the Old Covenant, God told His people to keep His commands, “…as frontlets between [their] eyes” (Deut 6:8): always right in front of them. But in the modern church, we hardly read his Word at all![1]

Maybe you want to love God’s Word, but you just can’t. What’s the answer? Get it in front of your eyes! The more you see something, the more you learn to love it.[2] Step One is always this: open up your Bible, and look at God’s Word.

Prayer:

Father, I want more of Your Word! I want to love Your law. Help me! Fill me with the strength to meditate on Your Word, day and night, in Jesus’ name.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, November 26^th, 2019
Daniel 2:24-3:30
1 Peter 4:7-5:14
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 28:15-16
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.” – Dan 2:24

Daniel was bold. God had given him the interpretation to the King of Babylon’s dream, and Daniel went before the king to boldly proclaim it. If Daniel was wrong, it would cost him his life!

But Daniel knew this wasn’t just about Daniel. If Daniel’s interpretation was accurate, he would not only save his own life; he would also save the lives of his friends, plus all the “wise men” (v 24) in Babylon. Daniel knew the risk was worth the reward. He had no choice but to take a chance! He took his eyes off himself, and put them on the people around him.

God wants to do something powerful through you! But it’s not just for you. The destinies of people around you depend on your obedience. Are you willing to say yes and amen to whatever God asks you to do: not only for your sake, but for the sake of others whom God has placed by your side?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for moving through me. I know that so much more than my own hope and future are at stake here. The lives and futures of people around me depend on my obedience. I say yes and amen to everything You ask me to do, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Monday, November 25^th, 2019
Daniel 1:1-2:23
1 Peter 3:8-4:6
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 28:14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. – Dan 1:17

Daniel honored God; so God honored Daniel back. Daniel refused to “defile himself” (v 8) with the food and wine that the King of Babylon wanted him to eat! Daniel stuck to God’s plan for his life, instead of conforming to someone else’s. And in return, God gave him “knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; …and…understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Obedience positions you to receive the goodness of God. You can’t earn God’s favor; but you can align yourself with God’s will for your life! When you make a decision to honor God with all that you think, say, and do, He will make sure to honor you back!

“…and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” – Matt 6:4

Prayer:

Father, I want to honor You with all of my choices. I choose Jesus. I choose obedience! I know that as I make a decision to honor You, You will honor me back, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Sunday, November 24^th, 2019
Ezekiel 47:1-48:35
1 Peter 2:11-3:7
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 28:12-13
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul… – 1 Pet 2:11

Sometimes we convince ourselves it’s ok to sin. It’s harmless, we tell ourselves. How could watching that put me in danger? How could doing that put my salvation in jeopardy? How could saying that really have consequences?

But Scripture says fleshly lusts “war against the soul.” There is no such thing as harmless sin. When you follow the flesh, you are at war with your soul!

Say no to sin. You don’t need it in your life! You have power over your body. So don’t let sin reign in it any more!

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. – Rom 6:12

Prayer:

Father, help me to take a strong stance against sin. I don’t want to be at war with my soul any more! Help me to say no to the lusts of my flesh, and to say yes to more of Your presence, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Saturday, November 23^rd, 2019
Ezekiel 45:13-46:24
1 Peter 1:13-2:10
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 28:11
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… – 1 Pet 1:13

The revelation of Jesus Christ brings grace. Grace is unmerited favor: the “goodwill” and “lovingkindness” that God shows to us – His children – when we are in covenant with Him.[1] When you have the revelation that Jesus is Lord, and understand everything He has done for you, grace is “brought to you.”

Do you want to see more unmerited favor in your life? Can you use more grace? Look at Jesus!! The more you behold Him and allow Him to reveal Himself to you, the more you will experience His goodness in your life.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for Your goodness! Thank You for Your unmerited favor in my life, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, November 22^nd, 2019
Ezekiel 44:1-45:12
1 Peter 1:1-12
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 28:8-10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… – 1 Peter 1:3

You were born once into this world; and if you choose Jesus, you will be “begotten…again” into the Kingdom of Heaven! The first birth wasn’t your choice; but the second birth is up to you. You didn’t get to choose how and when you were born! But you get to choose how and when you are born again.

No matter what kind of family or situation you were born into: when you receive Jesus, you are born again! You now have a living hope. There is no such thing as hopelessness in the Kingdom of God. You are no longer living for life here on earth; you are living for life with God in heaven! You will never be the same because you have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, who died to give you Resurrection life.

Hope lives. Choose hope! Receive Jesus as Lord, and be born again.

Prayer:

Father, I am making the decision today to be born again! I choose Jesus. I know my life will never be the same! And I thank You for that, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, November 21^st, 2019
Ezekiel 42:1-43:27
James 5:1-20
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 28:6-7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. – James 5:7

Transformation with God is both immediate and progressive. There was an “early rain” when you gave your life to Jesus. You got saved! When you received Jesus as your substitute, God separated you from your sin “as far as the east is from the west ” (Ps 103:12)! You are now Heaven-bound because your life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3).

But you are still a work in progress. And that’s okay! There is a “letter rain” that will nourish you as you allow the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Jesus – to transform you. You are being conformed into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29); and that takes time! You are becoming more and more like Jesus every single day!

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. – Heb 10:14

You have been made perfect! But you are also being perfected. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t act like Jesus overnight. Don’t get bitter if your life doesn’t immediately look like the Book of Acts! Stay patient! And have faith that God will do everything He promised to do.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for taking Your time with me. I thank you for the early rain; and I open my heart to the latter rain! I pray You would finish the work You started in me, in Jesus’ name.

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