User Archives: Boyd Bailey

Boyd Bailey

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough. Luke 13:20-21

The word of Christ is a change agent for the Kingdom of God. Like small batches of yeast, truth leavens the Lord’s influence in a heart and soul. A little bit of Scripture goes a long way toward growing a moistened heart for the Lord. The firm, but loving fingers of our Heavenly Father work into our doughy soul the yeast of His love. Patience sees faith rise up and cause a life to smell appetizing, like the aroma of fresh baked bread. Truth is a change agent for the soul.

Furthermore, it takes work to kneed the yeast of Yahweh into a life The Holy Spirit is like the diligent cook who works the dough with beauty and persistence. The dough of our soul is tossed and turned, pounded and made smooth, so the yeast of God’s love works its influence into our inner being. We feel unstable at times, but this trusting posture invites us to receive faith’s full affects. Yes, faith’s fermenting process grows a bold and robust belief. A little leaven transforms.

A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. Galatians 5:9

Therefore, keep your heart moist with humility and pliable with prayer. A hard piece of dough is unable to grow, but a heart full of grace submits to the Holy Spirit’s control. Each day is an opportunity for Christ to bake fresh bread from our available life. Moldy and crusty bread is thrown out, fit for the trash, but fresh bread is the dinner table centerpiece for all to anticipate. Is your life an anticipation for Almighty God? The Bread of Life changes you into His bread of life.

Lastly, be aware of unseemly influences that subtly change your heart’s desires. There is bad yeast, so beware! The yeast of greed quits growing generosity. The yeast of cynicism quits growing faith. The yeast of selfishness quits growing service. Thus, the best remedy for bad yeast is to replace it with the good yeast of God. Invite Christ to be your change agent for Him. Daily, kneel before your Heavenly Father, so He can knead His character into your doughy heart!

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?1 Corinthians 5:6

Prayer: Heavenly Father keep my heart moistened by humility, so you can knead into my life what I need from You.

Related Readings: Exodus 13:3; Matthew 16:6; Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:7

Post/Tweet today: Like small batches of yeast, Scripture leavens the Lord influence in a heart and soul. #scripture

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

A wise and patient process is required to build a quality life or organization. Everything begins on the foundation of Jesus Christ. His glory, His salvation, His teaching and His example are all foundational for a better life and a better company, church or ministry. Values that flow from the Lord focus on excellence,  work done as unto the Lord. The customers of a company will demand they become bigger, if the business focuses on becoming better. Bigger follows better.

Are you proud of your work and your workplace? Is there a culture of excellence over expedience where you are employed? If so, you are blessed to have the opportunity to be the best in your industry or  field of expertise. Be patient because good things come to those who wait on God, not compromising quality over the pressure to produce. Quantity follows quality.

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16

The same can be said for our relationships. Relational equity takes time, trust and intentionality to build up between each other. It is much better for us to have fewer, but more in depth relationships, than a larger group of acquaintances, who we only relate to superficially. Why settle for shallow conversations when we can go deep around our commitment to Christ. We can share how we really feel and not fear rejection from those who authentically love and care for us.

Furthermore, with your family and friends focus on knowing and being known. Seek to comprehend what makes them click: their needs, their fears and their dreams. Your influence grows with those who feel like you really know them. Yes, keep Christ the cornerstone of your conversations and He will steer you into genuinely caring interactions. Remain committed to better serving and understanding your spouse and/or parent. Better love grows into Bigger love!

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 3:20

Prayer: Heavenly Father keep me focused on loving better, so You grow a bigger love in me.

Related Readings: Ruth 4:15; 1 Samuel 15:22; 1 Peter 2:4-25

Post/Tweet today: Our influence grows with those who feel like we really know them. #knowing

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Acts 26:28

Wishes come from a naive delight to become something one day. I wish to be a movie star, astronaut, teacher, fireman, engineer or preacher. “I wish” originates from a romanticism that makes me feel good about going there; but a nice desire without a committed will is wishful thinking. However, my wants have a way of bending my will towards a clearly defined outcome. My will follows my wants until the goal is accomplished. Agrippa may have wished to be a Christian one day, but clearly he did not want to be converted in the moment. Wants work to engage the will.

So, how can we move our wishes to wants? It is the motivation of our heart that makes mere wishes freely submit to the reality of wants. Moreover, it is more than just learning a principle;  we can understand a truth and still have our will unmoved. But when we encounter the Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ, He compels us to want what He wants. A close encounter with Christ moves a wishful feeling to a prayerful plan which then blends our will with God’s will.

If anyone is willing to do His will. John 7:17, NASB

When your heart wills to do the will of your Heavenly Father, He works with you at your place of faith. Indeed, as you worship and praise Him in the splendor of His glory, you see Him high and lifted up. Worship takes your wandering heart and brings it back home to do His bidding. The more the Lord increases in stature and the less you are concerned with your cares, Christ takes your wants and molds them into His desires. Your desires and God’s desires become one.

So delight in the One who is the most delightful. Rest in the reassurance that your righteous God has got it, whatever “it” may mean for you. Be wise to not wish away this season of life with self pity or regret, rather see this parenthesis in time as a prayerful process, in which the Lord converts your creative ideas into His action plan. Look into the eyes of Jesus with your eyes of faith and say yes to Him. God gives you what you want, when it's what He wants for you!

You have given him his heart’s desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips.

Psalm 21:2

Prayer: Heavenly Father make my wants and desires, Your wants and desires for me.

Related Readings: Deuteronomy 14:26;  Psalm 37:4; Matthew 16:24; Romans 10:1

Post/Tweet today: Worship takes our wandering heart and brings it back home to do His bidding. #worship

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

2 Timothy 1:5

Your parents’ faith is a gift from God and is not to be taken for granted. What a rock of reassurance you have in a legacy of love for the Lord. They stand for the truth of God and they live it with humility and grace. It is because of their faith that you have faith. They instilled the fear and love of God in you early on. Their awe and respect of God inspired your soul to do the same. Your parents’ faith has been a flame of passion lighting the path of your own walk with Christ. You watched them pray, so you pray; you watched them trust God, so you trust God; you watched them love people, so you love people; you watched them forgive, so you forgive; you watched them do the right things, so you do the right things; you witnessed their generosity, so you are generous. Your parents are models of faithfulness in the ways of God. What a gift! What a reason for joy, thanksgiving, and celebration.

Have you loved your parents and thanked them lately for their gift of sincere faith? Take the time to tell them how grateful you are for your upbringing in the faith. Thank them and God for your training and teaching in the great truths of the Bible all those years. Their faithful teaching and modeling of truth made it easy for you to embrace truth. Now you have the opportunity to do the same for your children. The Bible says, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Model for your children what has been modeled for you: service, selflessness, confession and repentance of sin, faithfulness, and forgiveness. Keep the faith alive by putting to death the devil’s attempts to derail your legacy of love for the Lord. Be a legacy builder not a legacy killer.

If you have failed in your role as a parent of faith, now is the time to return to your roots. It is never too late to pick up your parental baton of faith. In your heart, you know it’s the right thing to do. You have explored the other road most traveled. That faithless road is full of sin and deception, hurt and harm. It is a passageway of pride and ego. This unrighteous road is so crowded that you learn quickly that it is filled with peril and life accidents. Now you are back on a search for your father’s faith. Your mother’s prayers have wooed you back and encouraged you to pray for your own children.

It is time to put away foolish and immature ways. Your deep desire is to imitate the sincere faith of your parents. They were smarter than you realized, so unleash the faith of your childhood that was endowed by your parents. Appreciate and accept their indoctrination of God’s wisdom and allow it to serve you well in your adult responsibilities. However, do not lament your lot in life if your parents lacked faith. Instead, apply the faith of surrogate spiritual parents. You are positioned on a faith walk for your kids, so walk wisely. Keep giving the gift of faith to your family. Sincere faith can be passed on from one generation to another. So, by God’s grace, be relentless, passionate, and disciplined to keep the faith alive.

Post/Tweet: Thank your parents whose faith is a flame of passion lighting the path of your walk with Christ. #parents

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability” (Matthew 25:15).

Capacity is the ability Christ gives me to carry out His commands. And capacity varies from person to person. Some people can get by on five to six hours of sleep while I require seven to eight. Where I get out of balance is when I compare my capacity with someone of greater capacity. Indeed, capacity is meant to provide guardrails, not guilt.

So how can we use capacity to our advantage instead of our disadvantage? How can we understand our limitations and trust the Lord with the results? It starts by being honest about how God has made us. If we can only execute one project with excellence, then we limit ourselves to one. If we only have the time, money, and love for two children, then we accept this as the responsible decision. Honesty about capacity is freeing for parents.

But isn’t there a way to build capacity at work, at home, and in relationships? Yes, indeed! As you remain faithful with small responsibilities, the Lord and others can trust you with additional tasks. When you manage a small amount of money on a budget, you can be trusted with more resources to steward well. When you treat one individual with a full complement of grace and truth, you build relational capacity for more quality friendships.

Furthermore, you are over capacity when cash in your bank account is overdrawn or when you have written a relational check your emotions cannot cash. Therefore, monitor your capacity in prayer before Jesus. Ask Him for courage to say no to something new so you can say yes to current obligations. As in weight lifting, you can increase your mental, emotional, financial, and relational capacity, but it takes time, focus, and discipline.

The Lord has unlimited capacity for empathy, wisdom, and character. So go to Him for your character-capacity building. Make sure your character capacity keeps up with your success, and you will be able to handle success. Does your heart have the same capacity for humility as your mind does for truth?  Build capacity around Christ’s gifts to you.

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you” (2 Corinthians 10:12–13).

Prayer: What capacities do I have that Christ wants to grow? To whom do I need to say no?

Related Readings: Job 15:18; Psalm 147:5; John 3:34; 1 Corinthians 10:23

Post/Tweet: Our character capacity needs to keep up with our success for us to handle success. #charactercapacity

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. Luke 13:18-19

The Lord loves to take a little and make it big for His Kingdom’s purposes. He takes a little faith in His provision and produces an ongoing supply, possibly even surplus. He takes a little love of family and grows a lasting legacy for the Lord. He takes little, but consistent financial investments and compounds them into recurring support for those who steward wisely. He takes a little obedience and multiples His influence globally. He takes a little vision and grows it into a God-size idea.

However, to grow something for God takes disciplined faith and obedience on our part. We can’t quit in the middle of the maturation process, otherwise we miss out on the Lord’s lasting outcome. Like a beautiful baby takes nine months to come full term, so the blessings of God gestate by grace, mature by prayerful obedience and are birthed by trust in His timing. Thus, we stay in the process with Jesus. In His good time, He grows our big vision that brings Him glory!

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Will you run away when things get rough? Or will you stay in the game by God’s grace? Anyone can quit, few are the faithful. The process is as important as the progress and the end product. Therefore, stay engaged with Jesus and enjoy Him as you journey though stages of life. Your consistent acts of obedience, as little as they might seem, lead to the Lord’s bigger opportunities.

Most of all, take a little time each day to spend with your Heavenly Father. The tap root of your trust in God deepens and expands, so the trunk of your life becomes like a broad and bold Sequoia. The sturdy branches of your beliefs are a safe place to sit and rest for those who need the sanctuary of your encouragement. Yes, you may have just started with an acorn of salvation, but God will grow you into His bigger oak tree of blessing. Grace keeps you growing in Him!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Prayer: Heavenly Father grow me into Your big blessing for those I meet day to day.

Related Readings: Daniel 4:21; Zechariah 4:10; Luke 17:6; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 1:6

Post/Tweet today: Consistent acts of obedience, as little as they might seem, lead to the Lord’s bigger opportunities. #obey

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

Then he [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. Luke 13:6

The expectation of the Lord is for His children to bear fruit. Indeed, a life without fruit takes up space, instead of being an expression of God’s grace. Our Heavenly Father is patient, however He does draw a line in the sand of time and says to individuals, institutions and nations, repent or lose My favor. A soul or society that is barren of fruitful faith will eventually see God move on to those governed by His principles. The fruit of faith flourishes in a heart cultivated by Christ.

What fruit is your faith producing? The fruit of peace comes as you plant the seeds of trust in Jesus. Patience’s fruit appears as you prayerfully water the seeds of God’s grace. The fruit of perseverance is produced when you fertilize with faith in the goodness of God. Humility’s fruit blossoms when your Heavenly Father sows His loving kindness into your soul. Furthermore, a harvest of good deeds (enough to fill a barn) occurs when death to self brings to life your love!

I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

The mercy of the Lord does include a pruning process. Instead of immediately removing a fruitless faith He gives it time to grow by the shears of suffering. Yes, pain is meant to purge us from unhealthy habits and remind us of our undeniable dependence on Christ. Our Heavenly Husband cuts back our branches diseased by sin. Jesus, our Vine of spiritual nutrients, feeds our faith. Then the Holy Spirit creates blossoms in our life by bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

Otherwise, if the compassionate and thorough work of the Trinity is ignored we are in danger of being cut off from the life-giving grace of the Father, Son and Spirit. Furthermore, we are commanded by Christ to spread the manure of His mercy around the base of the unhealthy lives we influence. Yes, our service may smell repulsive to sinful souls, but our relentless love and forgiveness may facilitate fruit with the sweet aroma of salvation. Fruitful faith enjoys God’s favor.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:8-9

Prayer: Heavenly Father prune back my unhealthy attitudes and actions, so I can serve others.

Related Readings: Isaiah 5:2; Jeremiah 8:13; John 15:5-8; Hebrews 6:7

Post/Tweet today: A soul or society that is barren of fruitful faith will eventually see God move on to those governed by His principles. #faithfulness

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. Matthew 13:24-25

God sows good seed in the world. We see the Lord’s good seed all around us: churches, ministries, hospitals, orphanages, families and individuals that love and obey Christ. Law abiding citizens, honest taxpayers, hard workers, generous givers and studious students all sprout from the good seed of our Savior Jesus Christ. Moreover, the sowing of God’s good seed never ceases. He will grow up preachers, missionaries, church planters, diplomats and executives for His glory.

However, while God is sowing good seed around you, Satan is sowing bad seed. He is creating evil influences that seek to thwart the plans for good. Evil will mingle with the righteous until Christ comes to separate the wheat from the tares. Thus, psychotic and/or demon possessed people rampage among innocent children with rapid and murderous gun fire. The sons and daughters of disobedience look for ways to steal, kill and destroy. Bad seed grows among good.

In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2, NKJV

Furthermore the bad seed resembles the good seed, its real nature is not revealed until it bears the fruit of its true intent. This is how two people can both attend church together, while one is going through the motions and the other is a dedicated disciple. You can be a church member, but not be a child of God. The good seed of salvation is sown along with the bad seed of hypocrisy. But we wait for Christ’s judgment and pray God’s grace has His transforming affect on the lost tares.

We are not the judge of someone’s soul, He is, but we can model what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus. For example, as we encounter conflict at church we can remain calm and express our concerns with a voice of reason and grace. Our role is to represent Christ in our conduct and conversion. It’s the Holy Spirit’s role is to examine motives and expose evil intent. So, celebrate God’s sowing of good seed and prayerfully trust in Christ’s judgment of the bad.

This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ. Romans 2:16

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for Your good seed that grows and bears great fruit.

Related Readings: Matthew 3:12; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:4

Post/Tweet today: Bad will mingle with the good until Christ comes to separate the wheat from the tares. #judgment

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15

A heart for God is nurtured by the word of God. Just like the stomach receives good food to grow the body, so a healthy heart receives nutritious morsels from a meal of Scripture. Indeed, the spiritual development process begins with a heart hungry for God. A soft soul, like moist dirt, takes in truth and gives it time to deepen its roots in righteousness. Tests of trust come, but a humble heart stays true to its commitment to Christ.  Faith perseveres and retains God’s word.

Beware of Satan’s attempt to snatch away the seed from your pathway of faith and obedience. Your acceptance of Christ by faith and your obedience to His commands by grace, hide the seed of God’s word from the snare of the enemy. Truth applied to your life cannot be taken by the devil. He trolls the surface of your thinking trying to steal away the Word. However, when you hide Holy Scripture deep in your heart you are safe from the thief’s clutches. You are saved!

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3:7

Yes, the word of the Lord allows you to know the Lord. Therefore, pace yourself in the grace of God, so you continue to grow in your faith. It is not how early you start with God, but how far you go over a lifetime. Do not allow trials to take away your joy in Jesus. You can still smile on the inside, even when you are suffering on the outside. The tests of your faith teach forgiveness and grace in your relationships. Life lessons learned make you more effective in how you love.

Cares of this world mustn’t block us from learning the Bible and becoming better followers of Christ. Worry can keep us from the Word of God, or the Word of God can keep us from worry. Therefore, it’s imperative that we quietly meditate on Scripture, so the Spirit can clearly speak to our heart with reassuring words of hope, wisdom and encouragement. Once rooted and grounded with a heart for God, our Heavenly Father multiples the fruit of our faith in other faithful lives.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1

Prayer: Heavenly Father may my humble heart be fertile ground to receive Your word, so you can grow my faith and the faith of those I influence for You.

Related Readings: Psalm 18:30; Matthew 4:4; John 8:51; Acts 12:24; 1 John 2:19

Post/Tweet today: Worry can keep us from the Word of God, or the Word of God can keep us from worry. #WordofGod

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com

Boyd Bailey

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. Acts 3:15

Eyewitness accounts are compelling evidence for truth. These first hand witnesses bring creditability with their character. They are especially trustworthy if they stick to the facts even when it costs them their life. When Jesus was arrested by foes, Peter and John were arrested by fear. However, when Jesus rose from the grave, Peter and John’s courage rose with Him. They saw, touched, talked and ate with Jesus after He came back to life. God’s power empowered them!

Yes, we were witnesses of this idyllic resurrection power when we were born again. Once we were dead to faith, now we are alive to trust in Christ. Once we were dead to assurance of heaven, now we are alive to the security of eternal life. Once we were dead to the Son’s salvation, now we are alive to His grace. Once we were dead to our Heavenly Father’s love, now we are alive to His affection. Once we were dead to the Spirit’s help, now we are alive to His leading!

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

If a case for Christ’s resurrection were presented in a court of law, a thorough jury would find Jesus guilty of being raised from the dead by His Heavenly Father. The compelling proof is on the side of the plaintiff Holy God. The devil is on the defensive, as all his arguments were destroyed in one fell swoop at the resurrection of Christ. Your risen Savior Jesus, rises above the arguments and evil taunts of Satan. The empty tomb empties the enemy’s arsenal of deception. Jesus lives!

You stand on the solid rock of Christ’s resurrection, as experienced in person by His disciples and 500 other followers. You base His Story on the historical fact of Him going into the grave dead and walking out of the grave alive on the third day. Furthermore, your own faith experience with Jesus is your eyewitness evidence of engaging your risen Savior. You are His channel of hope to the sick, the lost, the disabled, the rich and the poor. You are a witness!

He [Jesus] was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time. 1 Corinthians 15:4-6

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for raising Your Son Jesus from the dead to give me life.

Related Readings: John 2:22; Acts 2:31; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:10-11; Colossians 3:1

Post/Tweet today: The devil is on the defensive, as all his arguments were destroyed at Christ’s resurrection. #resurrection

© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com