November 14: Proverbs 16 9
Key Verse: Proverbs 16 9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Devotion:
No matter which way we look at things, we do have to make our own decisions about what we will ultimately do. In prison, a person may not have a whole lot of choice as to what they can do, but they still have a choice. When walking through a maze, we try to use our brains to out-wit the designer of the maze. In relationships, our brains are working overtime trying to make sense of things! Even in a small decision such as “what do I have for breakfast?”, we must choose one path or another.
We do all of this through some sort of decision process by summing up the pros and cons and then making our minds up according to what we think is most agreeable or even least offensive! God has given us amazing minds so we can have the power of reason, so we can make complex decisions. Take a look around you and see what amazing minds have done with technology, from the device displaying this devotion to the electrical energy in each of our houses.
You would have thought that with such power of reasoning man would have discovered the truth by now! Instead we start to make choices which are not for God, but against Him – simply for us! No matter how much we theorise about how the earth was made, the plain truth is that no scientific theory will ever reach the truth. We will, instead, come up with more and more complex and elaborate versions of how things happened... with God following us every step of the way!
No matter how much we think we are in control of everything, there is a far greater power that maintains stability here. Not between countries feuding over oil rights and money, for that is where man just runs away with his feelings; but right down to the molecular level... God is in control. He tries to show us the way by changing circumstances around us... If we are willing to listen to those changes, then we will learn what He has in store for us. Our brains are big enough to understand those changes – if only we used them...
Points to Ponder:
What would you say is the most amazing thing you have done?
How many God-given amazing things have happened around you?
November 13: 2 Corinthians 8 8-15
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 8 9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Devotion:
Today is a day which has been set aside to remember all those people who have given their lives during the wars. They have given their lives so we may have a better place to live. They gave up what was most treasured to them so we would be able to benefit from it. God has also shown His amazing grace through giving us that which was most precious to Him, His Son!
As Christians we are called to arms to continue the fight against evil. We need to be prepared to stand up for God. We need to be prepared to stand up for our fellow church people when they stand up in the truth. Others need to know we are there to help when they need it. As Christians, we are called to support our fellow church people. We need to know that we are wiling to help those who need it, and they need to know we are willing to help. It is only through showing others a part of that grace which God has shown us that we can hope to bring them before Christ.
It is not about how much we can gather here on earth to show we have been servants of God. It is about the love and grace we show to others which will bring them to see how wonderful God's love and grace is. It's about accepting that love and grace which God has personally extended to each one of us and carrying it forward so others can gain from it.
We have accepted that gift of eternal life – now we need to recommend it to others. If we show willingness to stick with God, just maybe someone will ask us about Him and we can continue the good fight...
Points to Ponder:
Who will you be thinking of on this Remembrance Day?
Will you extend your mind to God as well?
November 12: Jeremiah 10 23-24
Key Verse: Jeremiah 10 24
O Lord, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
Devotion:
When was the last time you had to learn something the hard way? Mine was not such a long time ago! In fact, I spent a good two hours trying to hunt down a problem that I had caused by simply taking the wrong version of a program! Who would have thought that the difference between version 4.3 and 4.4 would bring down the whole email system for a company!
Some mistakes in our life are expensive, not just in monetary terms, but in time and effort. Then there are the mistakes which cause personal discomfort or grief – those we try to avoid! Some mistakes are just an annoyance and we tend to live with them! Some mistakes go unnoticed for a long time and only come back to haunt us after we have all but forgotten them!
We will never truly be able to understand the grace God bestows upon us until we are with Him in eternity. We continue to make mistakes in our lives where we know we have upset God through making a mistake or choosing the wrong choice. We continue to try and do our best for Him but fall short of the mark every time, knowing that there is better things to come!
But where would we be without a gentle prod with a sharp stick (so to speak)? We would continue to do things wrong because we did not understand the situation, or we just believed everything was ok in our own minds! God is the only one who has the knowledge of the universe and He alone is able to guide us perfectly. Our problem is that we don't always listen when He tries to tell us. We need God to be able to warn us when things start to go wrong and we need to listen to Him when He warns us. We need to listen before He has to repeatedly tell us things are not right! The last thing we need in our lives is the wrath of God!
Points to Ponder:
How many times do you warn friends when they get things wrong?
How many times does God have to warn you?
November 11: John 17 20-23
Key Verse: John 17 20
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
Devotion:
It does not take a lot to tell God you do believe. But that is exactly what He wants to hear from each of us. He knew that He only had a certain time on earth to convince a few people to believe (few in comparison to the number of people on the planet) and that is why He prayed this – for all those who would have to believe someone else's word that Christ is who He is!
We have so many truths written in the Bible and even in some history books about the life of Christ. We know He is real. And yet many still choose not to believe because it would mean having to throw out some very grand ideas about the universe and even earth. We like to believe in ideas which are grand and fanciful, just because they sound so good. People conjure up ideas and pictures in their heads which allow them to think there is a possibility those ideas are real – yet when people are faced with a simple truth that will break many of them down, they reject it.
God knew just how difficult things would get, not just for Him in the next few days, but for man as he continues to grow on planet earth. He knew the pitfalls and the wiles of the devil would be strewn in front of us all. He knew the temptations that we would have to face, and He prayed directly for strength for each of us to be able to get through it! I know of no other one who is willing to continue in prayer for sinners and people who reject Him right up until they face Him after death.
Christ wants us all to be joined in heaven so we can experience a wonderful life together. To do that we have to believe. To do that we have to understand His Word. We have to seek out the truth. By our very nature we do look for the truth. But we are also tempted by so many ideals in life. We need not be ashamed of the Gospel, because Christ has already prayed that people will learn from it. He has already asked God to help us spread the Gospel. He has already made sure the Gospel has been kept for so many years. All we need do is to tell someone!
Points to Ponder:
Do you tell lies to your friends?
Why not show them God's Truth and bring light to their lives?
November 10: 2 Thessalonians 2 16-17
Key Verse: 2 Thessalonians 2 16
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
Devotion:
When we pray, we need to make sure our prayers are directed to both God the father and to Christ Jesus. Jesus has submitted to us that all prayers should be asked through His name – this is because He is the one who has paid for our sins. As mere sinners, we have no right to ask God of anything, but because we ask through Jesus' name, He will listen.
We need only glance at what God has done in our lives to realise just how much He does love us and how much He cares. We know He has given us many promises which He has always kept and will always keep. We know He shows us great mercy. We know there is hope through His grace. That grace has been supplied free of charge to us. All we should do is accept it!
If you want to be successful in your career, then you should work hard at it to make sure you stay on top of it. If you want to be successful in your home life, then you have to work at that too. If you want to be successful in your life with Christ, then you must work at it! One cannot stand by and hope things are all going to happen; rather we have to make sure things will happen by keeping in constant contact with God through Christ Jesus.
If you are playing in a team sport, then you can expect each member of the team to give their best so the team can win. If some are not, then they are letting down the whole team, not just themselves. If we are not going to do our bit for God, then we are letting down a whole lot more than just ourselves... He can comfort us, He can support us, He can listen to us, He can answer prayers because He is able. But we are the ones who need to make our prayers known to Him.
Points to Ponder:
Do your group of friends all care for each other?
Why should Christians be any different? Why leave God out?