Friday 20 Jul 2012

Friday Reading: Matthew 6:19-24

Key Verse: Matthew 6:24
24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Devotion:
One of the hardest things I still find it to think ahead, plan ahead and to make sure that things are sorted out for tomorrow instead of just today, the here and now! I know my parents had to put up with so much as I continued to put things off and to lay things aside – and my family and friends still do have to put up with that; but can you imagine how much God has to put up with with all of us doing much the same thing?

We like to think that we have things sorted out and that we have got time to do what we expect we can do, so we put something off for a little while longer whilst we go off and do something that we would much rather be doing! Sound a little familiar? Well our bibles are full of things like that where God has continually had to put up with man taking things into his own hands or running off like Jonah. How can we ever think that we can run away from a God who is eternal, living, all knowing, all powerful, all seeing and everywhere?

If we ever get to the point where we think we should follow what our friends are doing just because it looks like the right thing to do or because it is fun – then we have already gone too far and we need to stop and think once again! God is so very patient with us, but He also remembers everything! If we do not figure out that we are doing things wrong then He may well allow things into our lives that will force us to take a long hard look at what we are up to and compare it with His Truth! None of us like to be told that we are in error or that we are following man instead of following God – but we do have to realise that we do do such things!

We have a single God. Yes it is confusing for us to know that He is made up of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. But He (or They) are one and the same. No part of God will ever do something without all of Him knowing what is going on and in full support. So our love toward God should not just be in part or part time but in whole and all of the time. Our love for God should be directed toward Him and not through lifting up man in His place. Yes we do need to love and support each other, and the love that God allows me to have towards other never ceases to amaze me – but we need to server Him first and foremost. He is God!

Points to Ponder:
Who do you lift up?

Is God preeminent in your life?