thoughts by Max Lucado Archives - Page 3 of 42

Published October 19, 2023

Saturated in God’s Love

“Where God’s love is there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” 1 John 4:18 NCV.

We fear rejection, so we follow the crowd. We fear not fitting in, so we take the drugs. For fear of standing out, we wear what everyone else wears. For fear of blending in, we wear what no one else wears. But those saturated in God’s love don’t sell out to win the love of others. They don’t even sell out to win the love of God.

We all need improvement, but we don’t need to woo God’s love. We change because we already have God’s perfect love. Perfect love is just that—a perfect knowledge of the past and perfect vision of the future. God knows your entire story, from first words to final breath, and with clear assessment he declares, “You are mine.”

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

One Step at a Time

Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NCV

Arthur Hays Sulzberger was the publisher of The New York Times during the Second World War. Because of the world conflict, he found it almost impossible to sleep. He was never able to banish worries from his mind until he adopted as his motto these five words—“One step enough for me”—taken from the hymn “Lead, Kindly Light.”

God isn’t going to let you see the distant scene either. So you might as well quit looking for it. He promises a lamp unto our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We do not need to know what will happen tomorrow. We only need to know he leads us and “we will find grace to help us when we need it” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT).

God is leading you. Leave tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow.

Oh, how we like to know the details—where we’re going, which path we’ll take, when we’ll get there, and exactly what “there” is. In other words, we want to know what is only known by God: the future.

The next time you fear the future, rejoice in the Lord’s sovereignty. Rejoice in what he has accomplished. Rejoice that he is able to do what you cannot do. Fill your mind with thoughts of God,
and remember this:

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for
your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8 NLT

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at: http://maxlucado.com/about/

God Never Sends You Out Alone

When you place your faith in Christ, Christ places his Spirit before, behind, and within you. Not a strange spirit, but the same Spirit: the parakletos. Everything Jesus did for his followers, his Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Spirit teaches. Jesus healed; the Spirit heals. Jesus comforted; his Spirit comforts. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, he sends his counselor to go with you.

God treats you the way one mother treated her young son, Timmy. She didn’t like the thought of Timmy walking to his first-grade class unaccompanied. But he was too grown-up to be seen with his mother. “Besides,” he explained, “I can walk with a friend.” So she did her best to stay calm, quoting the Twenty-third Psalm to him every morning: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

One school day she came up with an idea. She asked a neighbor to follow Timmy to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, lest he notice her. The neighbor was happy to oblige. She took her toddler on morning walks anyway.

After several days Timmy’s friend noticed the lady and the child.

“Do you know who that woman is who follows us to school?” Timmy answered. “That’s Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy.”

“Who?”

“My mom reads about them every day in the Twenty-third Psalm. She says, Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life. Guess I’ll have to get used to them.”

You will too. God never sends you out alone. Are you on the eve of change? Do you find yourself looking into a new chapter? Is the foliage of your world showing signs of a new season? Heaven’s message for you is clear: when everything else changes, God presence never does. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit, who “will teach you and will remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26 (NLT).

By Max Lucado
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

Ears to Hear

“Let he who has ears to hear, use them.”

Jesus said these words more than once. We’re reminded that it’s not just enough to have ears—it’s necessary to use them.

Scripture has always placed a premium on hearing God’s voice.

“Happy are those who listen to me” is the promise of Proverbs 8:34.

When John wrote to each of the seven churches in Revelation, they were addressed in the same manner: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

John 10:3-5 says, “The sheep recognize his voice…” They follow because they are familiar with the shepherd’s voice.

Our ears, unlike our eyes, do not have lids. They are to remain open, but how easily they close. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing.”

How long has it been since you had your hearing checked?

By Max Lucado
From: Just Like Jesus
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

Jesus Takes Our Fears Seriously

Fear feels dreadful.

It sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment.

When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. The fear-filled cannot love deeply; love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear.

Jesus says, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NKJV). The gospels list some 125 Christ-issued imperatives. Twenty-one urge us to “not be afraid” or “not fear” or “have courage” or “take heart” or “be of good cheer.” If quantity is any indicator, Jesus takes our fears seriously.
He is our comfort and strength

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at: http://maxlucado.com/about/

Cornelius

Cornelius was an officer in the Roman army. Both Gentile and bad guy. He ate the wrong food, hung with the wrong crowd, and swore allegiance to Caesar. He didn’t quote the Torah or descend from Abraham. Uncircumcised, unkosher, unclean. Look at him.

Yet look at him again. Closely. He helped needy people and sympathized with Jewish ethics. He was kind and devout. “One who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2(NKJV). Cornelius was even on a first-name basis with an angel. The angel told him to get in touch with Peter, who was staying at a friend’s house thirty miles away in the seaside town of Joppa. Cornelius sent three men to find him.

Peter, meanwhile, was doing his best to pray with a growling stomach. He saw a vision of a sheet that contained enough unkosher food to uncurl the payos of any Hasidic Jew. Peter absolutely and resolutely refused. “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (v. 14 (NKJV).

But God wasn’t kidding about this. He three-peated the vision, leaving poor Peter in a quandary. Peter was pondering the pigs in the blanket when he heard a knock at the door. At the sound of the knock, he heard the call of God’s Spirit in his heart. “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them” (v. 19–20 (NKJV).

“Doubting nothing” can also be translated “make no distinction” or “indulge in no prejudice” or “discard all partiality.” This was a huge moment for Peter.

Much to his credit, Peter invited the messengers to spend the night and headed out the next morning to meet Cornelius. When Peter arrived, he confessed how difficult this decision had been. “You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit” (v. 28 (CEV). Peter told Cornelius about Jesus and the gospel, and before Peter could issue an invitation, the presence of the Spirit was among them, and they were replicating Pentecost—speaking in tongues and glorifying God.

And us? We are still pondering verse 28: “God has shown me that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit.”

In our lifetimes you and I are going to come across some discarded people. Tossed out. Sometimes tossed out by a church. And we get to choose. Neglect or rescue? Label them or love them?

By Max Lucado
used by permission

From: Cast of Characters Lost and Found:
Encounters with the Living God

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/

Long Lists of Stinky Trash

Life has a way of unloading its rubbish on us. Your boss expects too much. Your kids whine too much. Trash. Load after load of anger; guilt; pessimism; bitterness; and anxiety. It all piles up! As a result, we must guard our thoughts. Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions. Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s hate crime. Could that be why Paul writes in: 1 Corinthians 13:5,

“Love keeps no record of wrongs”?

Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that we have a choice:

“We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.”

Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Rather than store up the sour thoughts, store up the sweet ones. Make a list of God’s mercies; the many times he has blessed you…the many times he has forgiven you. And you will find your thoughts resulting in happy days.

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: A Love Worth Giving

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

No Limit to His Love

“This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us.” 1 John 3:16 (NCV)

It’s nice to be included. You aren’t always.

Universities exclude you if you aren’t smart enough. Businesses exclude you if you aren’t qualified enough, and, sadly, some churches exclude you if you aren’t good enough.

But though they may exclude you, Christ includes you. When asked to describe the width of his love, he stretched one hand to the right and the other to the left and had them nailed in that position so you would know he died loving you.

But isn’t there a limit? Surely there has to be an end to this love. You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But David the adulterer never found it. Paul the murderer never found it. Peter the liar never found it. When it came to life, they hit bottom. But when it came to God’s love, they never did.

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

Handling the Tough Times

How do you handle your tough times? When you are tired of trying, tired of forgiving, tired of hard weeks or hard-headed people—how do you manage your dark days? With a bottle of pills? Alcohol? A day at the spa? Many opt for such treatments. So many, in fact, we assume they re energize the sad life. But do they? They may numb the pain, but do they remove it? We like sheep follow each other over the edge, falling headlong into bars, binges and beds. Is there a solution? Indeed there is.

Be quick to pray. Talk to Christ who invites. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus says, “I will show you how to take a real rest.” God who is never downcast, never tires of your down days! Just go to him!

By Max Lucado
From: Facing Your Giants
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

The Message of Grace

Salvation, from beginning to end, is a work of our Father. God does not stand on a mountain and tell us to climb it and find him. He comes down into our dark valley and finds us. God does not offer to pay all the debt minus a dollar if we’ll pay the dollar. He pays every penny! He doesn’t bargain with us, telling us to clean up our lives so he can help. He washes our sins without our help.

The message of God is the message of grace. Grace that is entirely God’s. God loving. God offering. God caring and God carrying! As you consider the insurmountable debt you owe, the debt you can never pay, let this promise be declared: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). And because God’s promises are unbreakable our hope is unshakable!

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

From: Unshakable Hope
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at: http://maxlucado.com/about/

Anxiety Ain’t Fun

Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. The sky is falling, and it’s falling disproportionately on you. Anxiety ain’t fun! One would think Christians would be exempt from worry but we are not. It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.”

Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state. “Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst.” The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Could you use some calm? Of course you could. We all could! We all could use a word of comfort and God is ready to give it.

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: Anxious for Nothing

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

Satan’s Condemnation

Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret!

Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

To steal your peace, kill your dreams, and destroy your future.

Satan has deputized people to peddle his poison.

Friends dredge up your past.

Preachers proclaim all guilt and no grace.

And parents, oh, your parents. “Why can’t you grow up?” they say. “When are you going to make me proud?” they say.

But your accusers will not have the last word!

Jesus has acted on your behalf. Jesus Christ has risen to your defense.

Hebrews 10:22 urges “. . .let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.”

Not just for our past mistakes but also for our future ones. Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God! Gifted, equipped, and commissioned!

By Max Lucado
From: GRACE
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

Hard Hearted

“Hard hearted people are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” Ephesians 4:17-19

A hard heart ruins, not only your life, but the lives of your family members.

As an example, Jesus identified the hard heart as the wrecking ball of a marriage. When asked about divorce, Jesus said, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because our hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” (Matthew 19:8) When one or both people in a marriage stop trusting God to save it, they sign its death certificate. They reject the very one who can help them.

My executive assistant, Karen Hill, saw the result of such stubbornness in a pasture. A cow stuck her nose into a paint can and couldn’t shake it off. Can-nosed cows can’t breathe very well, and they can’t drink or eat at all. Both the cow and her calf were in danger. A serious bovine bind.

Karen’s family set out to help. But when the cow saw the rescuers coming, she set out for pasture. They pursued, but the cow escaped. They chased that cow for three days! Each time the posse drew near, the cow ran. Finally, using pickup trucks and ropes, they cornered and de-canned the cow.

Seen any can-nosed people lately? Malnourished souls? Dehydrated hearts? People who can’t take a deep breath? All because they stuck their noses where they shouldn’t, and when God came to help, they ran away.

When billions of us imitate the cow, chaos erupts. Nations of bull-headed people ducking God and bumping into each other. We scamper, starve, and struggle.

Can-nosed craziness. Isn’t this the world we see? This is the world God sees.

Yet, this is the world God loves. “For God so loved the world…” This hard hearted, stiff-necked world. We stick our noses where we shouldn’t; still, he pursues us. We run from the very one who can help, but he doesn’t give up. He loves. He pursues. He persists. And, every so often, a heart starts to soften.

Let yours be one of them.

When my daughters were small, they liked to play with Play-Doh. They formed figures out of the soft clay. If they forgot to place the lid on the can, the substance hardened. When it did, they brought it to me. My hand were bigger. My fingers stronger. I could mold the stony stuff into putty.

Is your heart hard? Take it to your Father. You’re only a prayer away from tenderness. You live in a hard world, but you don’t have to live with a hard heart.

by Max Lucado
Used by Permission
From: 3:16, The Number of Hope

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

The Secret of Forgiveness

We will never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty.

We will never be pure until we admit we are filthy.

And we will never be able to wash the feet of those who have hurt us until we allow Jesus, the one we have hurt, to wash ours.

You see, that is the secret of forgiveness. You will never forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you. Only by letting him wash your feet can you have strength to wash those of another.

Still hard to imagine? Is it still hard to consider the thought of forgiving the one who hurt you?

If so, go one more time to the room. Watch Jesus as he goes from disciple to disciple. Can you see him? Can you hear the water splash? Can you hear him shuffle on the floor to the next person? Good. Keep that image.

John 13:12 says, “When he had finished washing their feet … ” (NCV)

Please note; he finished washing their feet. That means he left no one out. Why is that important? Because that also means he washed the feet of Judas. Jesus washed the feet of his betrayer. He gave his traitor equal attention. In just a few hours Judas’ feet would guide the Roman guard to Jesus. But at this moment they are caressed by Christ.

That’s not to say it was easy for Jesus.

That’s not to say it is easy for you.

That is to say that God will never call you to do what he hasn’t already done

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To Learn more about Maxi Lucado
Max Lucado https://maxlucado.com/about/

You’re Not Alone

Have you ever gone to the grocery on an empty stomach?

You’re a sitting duck when you do.

You buy everything you don’t need.

Doesn’t matter if it’s good for you—you just want to fill your tummy!

When you’re lonely, you do the same in life.

Pulling stuff off the shelf, not because you need it, but because you’re hungry for love. Why do we do it?

Because we fear facing life alone.

For fear of not fitting in, we take the drugs.

For fear of standing out, we wear the clothes.

For fear of appearing small, we go into debt and buy the house.

For fear of sleeping alone, we sleep with anyone.

For fear of not being loved, we search for love in all the wrong places.

But all that changes when we discover God’s perfect love. 1 John 4:18 says,

“Perfect love casts out fear.” You are not alone!

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

Category: <span>thoughts by Max Lucado</span>

“Where God’s love is there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” 1 John 4:18 NCV.

Further Reading

Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NCV

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Let he who has ears to hear, use them.”

How long has it been since you had your hearing checked?

Further Reading

Fear feels dreadful.

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

“This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us.” 1 John 3:16 (NCV)

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

Further Reading

Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Jesus has acted on your behalf. Jesus Christ has risen to your defense.

Further Reading

A hard heart ruins, not only your life, but the lives of your family members.

Further Reading

We will never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty.

We will never be pure until we admit we are filthy.

John 13:12 says, “When he had finished washing their feet … ” (NCV)

Further Reading

Have you ever gone to the grocery on an empty stomach?

When you’re lonely, you do the same in life.

“Perfect love casts out fear.” You are not alone!

Further Reading