FAITH CAPSULE: Devote to the word of God, and you will not miss your chance.

Luke 10:29-37

Are you one that will not miss the chance to give the best of help to the needy? 
Will you give out your help to the needy for the glory of God?
Jesus did not just tell the parable of the Good Samaritan but responded to an unknown lawyer who stood up and tested Him, saying, “…Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) 
Jesus turned to the lawyer to answer his question, and he answered Jesus, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”(Luke 10:27) 
Jesus responded to the answer by the lawyer with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The parable was about a man who fell among thieves and was left half-dead after being beaten and stripped naked. 
Jesus stated that a priest and a Levite were in a position to help the man who fell among thieves.
However, both passed at the scene of the thieves. 
The priest and a Levite had the chance to demonstrate what it means to show the love of God and be qualified to inherit eternal life. 
Luke 10:31 records, “Jesus said, now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”  Jesus pointed out that it was a chance for the priest and a Levite to act the love that they were preaching. 
Both the priest and the Levite missed their chance to demonstrate caring love. 
A Samaritan, a much-hated neighbor of the Jews, had compassion and did not pass without demonstrating what it means to love neighbor as self. 
The Good Samaritan positioned himself as qualified to inherit eternal life. 
Taking a chance was a favorable circumstance, and the Samaritan helped the man suffer at the hand of thieves as his neighbor.
The word of Jesus counts before God.
The Priest and the Levite had their chance but could not show the love of God and not be qualified as a candidate to inherit eternal life. 
Have you been passing over your chances? 
A priest and Levite missed their chance. 
Imagine anyone following and looking up to the priest and the Levite at the time of their passing. 
The word of Jesus points to the truth that the task counts, not the title.
The priest or the Levite working in God does not demonstrate possible with the care that cannot be before God. 
All should know to be looking up to Jesus and not to a priest or Levite. Jesus is the author and finisher of faith and will not mislead anyone representing Him. 
Do you desire eternal life? 
Devote to the word of God, and you will not miss your chance.

Prayer for today: Ask for the hand of God upon you not to miss the chances for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Who do you commit to for getting help? 

1 Samuel 13

Jesus selected few to walk with Him day and night.
The few elected to walk with Him is not evidence for Him to commit to anyone.
Jesus could not commit Himself to any man. 
The Bible records, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.” (John 2:24) 
The documentation of the experience of Jesus is for all to learn.
Are you studying instead of reading the word of God to learn?
Study the experience of Jesus, do not look over the word by committing yourself to no one. 
Do you commit to someone?
Who do you commit to for getting help? 
God is indeed the Caring taker of caretaker. 
God does not fail.
God waits to act when we wait on His committed love and caring. 
Isaiah 64:4 testifies to God, “For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
God is enough to be committed to His help, not to anyone. 
God alone is the Helping helper of man that has never failed. 
Looking for help from the wrong sources is evidence of limiting God for His loving care. 
Your help will not come from where you are looking or will it come from your thinking. 
King Saul became the King over the children of Israel. 
Having been confirmed, he began to think and look for help from the people around him. 
Saul was to fight the Philistines, but he could not wait for the Prophet of God with direction to carry out the burnt offering. 
Saul disobeyed the law of God by engaging burnt offering that was only to be carried out by Samuel, the priest of God. 
Samuel confronted Saul about the presentation of the burnt offering,“…What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” (1 Samuel 13:11-12) 
Committing to man instead of meditating on the testimonies of the care of God will compel one to become a failure like King Saul.:
Meditate on what God can do, what He has done, and what He is doing. God is enough to look up to for help. 
God alone has brought you this far, and He will not leave you, and He shall not forsake you. 
Are you wondering where your help will come to become for you?
Help from God is sure and unfailing for one that will be committed to God alone.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you not to commit to anyone but only to Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Be persistent in thanking God, that does not resist answering you.

Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus was on His mission journey to the region of Tyre and Sidon when a woman of Canaan came and cried out to Him. 
Have you been crying to Him all year long? 
The woman cried for mercy, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (Matthew 15: 22)
All kinds of crying do not miss before God, but the crying one must know to wait for His response. 
In the scene of this woman of Canaan, the response of Jesus testifies to the truth that God hears every time, but only answers come at His appointed time. 
As regards the case of the woman of Canaan, the Bible records the response of Jesus, “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” (Matthew 15:23) 
Jesus did not answer the woman at the expected time of her asking because of her limited knowledge of Jesus.
The timing of God is not the timing of man. 
The disciples could not wait but quickly requested her to be sent away.
God is a compassionate Father that will never ignore any of His children. 
Have you been praying before God, and the calling on God seems to be delayed by your timing?
Do not assume on your delay for an answer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving turn to God. 
Giving thanks in the face of pending needs is declaring the faithfulness of God. 
Giving thanks is also evidence of understanding that all things pass through God. 
Without a doubt, what passes through God will come out good. 
Give thanks to God always.
Romans 8:28 buttress, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
The Word of God records the reason for thanksgiving for all things.
Ephesians 5:20 records, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” 
One that knows to give thanks will experience all things working together for good on their behalf. 
In challenging situations, all should know to give thanks for all things and in all things. 
After a brief silence by Jesus to request of woman of Canaan, He later communicated with her, and the Bible records, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:8)
Do not give up, be persistent, and He will not resist answering you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the understanding to be persistent in giving thanks when waiting on Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Answering the calling of God is following God.

1Kings 19:11-21, Luke 5:1-11

Answering the calling of God is following God.
Following God is serving God.
Serving God is living life for God.
At a point in time, four fishermen forsook all and followed Jesus.
In life, to follow in serving God demands forsaking all. 
Elisha followed Elijah in his serving of God. 
The Bible records that Elisha answered the calling to serve when he wholeheartedly followed Elijah. 
Elisha broke with his old life by kissing his father bye and destroying the yoke of oxen that were his livelihood. (1Kings19:19-21) 
What do you forsake to follow in serving God?  
Four professional fishermen at the right time at the right place failed to catch fish. 
The four fishermen could not give up until daybreak, yet they caught nothing. 
As they were washing nets to pack for the day with nothing to show for fishing, Jesus showed up, “Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.” (Luke 5:3) 
Despite no success in catching fish, their kindness was intact as they allowed the stranger to use their vessel without any refusal. 
After Jesus finished teaching the multitude, He turned to the fishermen and gave them His word saying, “…Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)  
In response, professional fishermen lamented about toiling all night with nothing to show forth. 
Are you in any situation where disappointment denies turning to any word of change? 
Have you found yourself on a ground where you lack positive results in the endeavor? 
Often, listening to hear and see in the word of God will change to become positioned on the route to transformation. 
The fishermen responded to the word of God, to launch out into the deep and let down nets, and were able to catch several fish, “…and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:6-8)
Is there any area of your life where you have been toiling? 
It does not matter how long you have been toiling with nothing to show off. 
However, listen to hear and see in the word of God that will lead you to the route of transformation. 
The fishermen listened and heard the word that terminated their struggle. Give it all to Jesus, and He shall settle you.    

Prayer for today: Ask for the word of God to sound in your direction to come out of lack.

FAITH CAPSULE: Trusting is not just word of mouth, but word from the heart, the character of trust and hope. 

Joshua 14, Psalm 23

Trusting God is to rest on the promises of God that never fail.
Trusting God is confidence in the certainty of His deliverance and preservation power.
Are you doubting and not trusting in God?
Trusting God is to rest on the promises of God that never fail.
King David was so sure to trust in God when he said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
What is better than to know that with God is deliverance and preservation? 
God is a shield where there is no reason for fear in all areas of life.
King David was so sure to trust in God and not entertain fear. 
David walked and did not run through the valley of the shadow of death. He testifies, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) 
Knowing to trust God is not the same as knowing about trusting God. 
One that knows about trusting God does not have hope to trust God in the heart. 
Have faith to trust in God and be filled by God. 
In the valley of the shadow of death, walk confidently in the certainty of the deliverance of God.  
In life, through the wilderness, the only way out to the expected end is to trust God with hope. 
God is always at every juncture to make a way where there is no way and no sign of survival. 
Caleb and Joshua survived among thousands of the children of Israel that left Egypt for the Promised Land.
Caleb and Joshua survived because they saw hope where there was no hope. 
Caleb and Joshua trusted God enough and took an odd stand among their brethren that failed to trust in the promise of God. 
Caleb trusted God and testified, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.” (Joshua 14:7)  Trusting is not just word of mouth, but word from the heart the character of trust and hope. 
Unlike Caleb and Joshua, the people who went to spy on the land failed to trust in the heart. 
Caleb testified, “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” (Joshua 14:8) 
Caleb trusted in God to prompt the keeping of God to testify, “And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.” (Joshua 14:10) 
God is trustworthy!

Prayer for today: Ask to be enabled by trusting God.