High Performing Teams, Catching Flies, And God’s Word
Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” In short, this means that you will have more success with people being nice and sweet rather than by being rude, mean, dishonest and hurtful. This is a very common principle that is found in the Bible as we study the life of Jesus. But just because we are supposed to be kind and loving, that does not mean that we are not supposed to speak truth.
Image courtesy of: Euan Slorach
Scripture of the Day:
“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” – Luke 11:17
Observation/Application:
While Jesus walked in love, on countless occasions he rebuked and corrected those who were living outside of God’s Will. In today’s scripture, Jesus was correcting some people who were criticizing and accusing him of being aligned with evil. Jesus taught them this great principle that a kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and will fall.
How true this is still today. How timeless the Word of God is. Sports teams win and lose according to whoever works together best as a team. Companies rise and fall according to the health of their teams. Families flourish or are torn apart based upon their ability to lI’ve each other and work together for their common good. Many highly acclaimed authors and business leaders tout this same principle that is clearly laid out here in Luke 11:17.
The Bible contains so many timeless principles that Jesus gave us to help us to live our best lives upon this earth. Yet so many of these principles are lost if we lose sight of the key to all wisdom and understanding which is God’s Word. Are we surprised by all of the strife that exists in this world as we take God out of our schools, our homes, our laws, and our very foundation? As Jesus says in Luke 11:52, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.”
And for those who have fallen away or who simply don’t know God, understanding the Word of God is probably like speaking in another language. And in a sense, it is another language. It is the language of pure and perfect love, because God is love. But it is so much more. God’s Word provides everything that is good and pure and perfect.
What is it that you need today? Need some peace? Seek God. Looking for love? Seek God. Need some wisdom? Seek God. Have a complex problem that you just can’t seem to figure out? Seek God. Whatever it is that you need, seek God. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
My prayer for you today is that you will come to know this amazing gift of the Word of God. For God’s Word has the power to heal and restore whatever it is that is broken, the break every chain that is holding you back, to protect you from those who wish to harm you, and pick you up from the deepest darkest places and lift you up upon the wings of an eagle.
Seek the Lord first each and every day, and see what God will do for you.
I call you blessed.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Thank you for the wisdom that surpasses all human understanding. Guide is in your ways. Draw us closer to you. Help us to seek your Word first each and every day. Fill us with all of your goodness. We pray for those today who are not close to you Lord. Reveal to them your pure and perfect love. Help them to understand that they can be healed from whatever it is that is ailing them. Help them to understand that you can restore whatever it is that is broken. We pray that you open their hearts today Lord. Let their hearts be open to you Lord. We invite you into our hearts today Lord. Help them to know that your love is pure and perfect and never fails. help them to know that they can fully trust you Lord, and that your Word never fails. We thank you Lord for all of those who have decided to open their hearts to you Lord. Let your Holy Spirit fall upon them Lord and overwhelm them with your love and power and strength. We surrender to you today Lord. For this is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. We give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Today’s full reading: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11