We are Christ’s ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) An ambassador is an official representative of the foreign country they come from.  They are able to negotiate on behalf of their home country.  Ambassadors work as messengers and interpreters on a temporary mission.  Everything the ambassador does is with the idea that their actions reflect back…

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV) Anyone who has attempted to cut something can tell the difference between the ease of a sharp knife compared to a dull knife.  When trying to cut with a sharp knife, the knife wielder…

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters.  And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by.  Do your best. Colossians 3:22 (MSG) Some of us have had bosses we did not get along with.  We did not agree with their management style.  At times, we knew more about how the job…

Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 (GWT) It is important to take care of our own needs and those of our families.  Proverbs 13:22 tells us that a good man leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.  We can work and save…

The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work. Proverbs 12:24 (MSG) There is a saying: choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.  Some people feel alive while performing their work.  They enjoy what they do from day to day.  They’ve…

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much… If you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16:10-12 (NIV) Parents know that children aren’t always responsible with other people’s property.  They may not take care of it and can accidentally…

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Work is a normal part of life.  God placed Adam in the garden to work the ground and keep it in order (Genesis 2:15).  Many of the people we read about in the Bible…

“Don’t worry.  Your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well what you need and will give it to you.” Matthew 6:31-32 (TLB) For some of us, life is going well and we believe that we are the providers of our income and the things we have worked hard to obtain. The Bible, however, teaches that like…

It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else. Ecclesiastes 6:9 (TEV)  An important facet of managing our finances is managing our desires.  Regardless of whether our income is average or above average, there is no amount of income we can’t outspend if we don’t manage our…

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; Psalm 24:1 (NIV) Jesus told a story (parable) of a prosperous and wealthy landowner (in Luke 12) to teach the importance of having the right attitude toward money and earthly possessions.  The man had wisely planted, harvested, and…

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) The verse above tells us that God will meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. God is more than able to provide assistance and help us in…

A wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. Proverbs 21:20 (TLB) Have you ever looked back on a purchase you’ve made and thought to yourself, “I really didn’t need that,” or “I shouldn’t have bought that?”  There’s a certain guilt associated with buyer’s remorse — splurging when perhaps…

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.  Then he will fill your barns. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT) Nothing shows your trust in God like giving back to God the first ten percent of your income as a tithe.  Giving the first ten percent is the key here.  Giving…

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV God is the source and supplier of all our talents and abilities.  It warms my heart when people recognize that anything good they have or do comes from God.  If opportunities come to you,…

“The man went out and told everyone everything that Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39 (CEV) Perhaps the most significant thing we can do as a friend to care for those in our relationships is to tell them about Jesus.  After all, every person we know will one day pass away and spend eternity…

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) Yesterday, we reminded ourselves of some of the practical actions we can take to begin to transform our relationships.  Today let’s reconsider the rest: Accept people unconditionally:  John Ortberg authored a book titled, “Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them.”  He describes driving home from…

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) E. B. White made the statement that “One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.” Furthermore, it can be said that the stress caused by bad relationships and the energy…

He who walks with the wise grows wise. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) Besides avoiding people of poor character who will take us the opposite direction of the way we want to go, the Scriptures inform us that we will benefit from being around people of sound character.  By engaging with honorable people, we gain the advantage…

A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses. Proverbs 27:19 (TLB) In an ironic twist, our choice of friends reveals our character, and our choice of friends defines our character.  In order to have relational transformation, we need to develop our character…

The righteous choose their friends carefully. Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)  As we proceed through life, we will encounter many people and have the opportunity for many friendships.  We may be prone to move toward anyone who shows an interest in us, particularly if we are starting at a lonely place.  But the Bible reminds us that…

Unfriendly people care only about themselves. Proverbs 18:1 (NLT) A starting point for developing healthy relationships is acquiring good friends.  The starting point for acquiring good friends is looking beyond yourself and showing an interest in others. The verse for today says that people who obsess over themselves do not present themselves to others as…

[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NCV) We are not alone in the trouble we face.  God is there to comfort us.  He can comfort us through His Word or use people in our…

Put your heart right…Reach out to God… face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more. Job 11:13-16 (GNT) Many of us have faced an emotionally devastating situation.  It could have been the death of a loved one, the…

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 (NLT) Have you ever bought a new car then noticed that car model was everywhere?  Every place you drove, there it was.  They may be different colors, but they seem to show up wherever you look.  You see them…

Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honest clear through. Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.  Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve…

When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me.  I moaned all day long. Psalm 32:3 (NIV) As believers, we sometimes think we should keep our emotions in check.  We think we should never have fear or feel upset, angry or sad.  We believe that the emotions we show should always be…

He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (NIV) We live in a broken world.  As a result, there are a variety of things that can cause wounds.  People are going to fail you and let you down.  We can feel betrayed by family and friends.  We can enter into a relationship that…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV) The struggles of life can cause us to feel weighed down.  We get wrapped up in thinking about how things should have happened when things don’t go as expected.  We think about how big the problems…

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan…