October 10: Proverbs 15 18-19
Key Verse: Proverbs 15 18
A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
Devotion:
One of our biggest problems in life has got to be our anger. From a very early age we learn about anger and we use it as an excuse to do things we know are wrong. We continue to learn more about anger when things we do wrong, when we see others around us jumping up and down. We learn what anger can do when we see others getting away with things just because of their anger issues, but what we do not see at first is the bitterness and resentment which builds up behind that anger; at least, not unlit it is too late!
If we set ourselves up to fight through everything in life, then we are going to cause a whole lot of strife. We will be setting people against each other for no other reason than to get our own way. If we are able to stand back and see what we are doing, we may well choose a different path that will not involve so many people, one which would not affect so many people’s lives. That ability to stand back and observe without applying our anger does not take weeks or days; we have an amazing brain given to us by our Saviour which is able to process thoughts quicker than we realise. All we need do is take one second before we speak to think about what we are about to say or do. That time is more than enough to discover what the outcome would be should we go ahead with our angry responses.
If we are willing to take just one second to think, we will also see that not only do we stop ourselves from getting deeper into trouble, but we actually help to bring a quicker end to the hostilities! You may then be thinking that walking away from a situation is the answer... Many a time it may well be, but if we do allow others to build up resentment and anger by simply walking away from situations, then they are going to eventually explode from trying to keep those feelings in. We need to respond when we are involved in the conversation – but to respond in a manner which will not continue to build up the strife... Easier said than done because of the way we allow our anger to surface far too quickly!
If you think you need a course in anger management, then you need to listen to the one who can make a difference – God – and allow those around you to offer help as well.
Points to Ponder:
How often do you get angry without thinking?
How often do you let God guide you?
October 9: Jude 1 20-25
Key Verse: Jude 1 21
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Devotion:
Some may say that our religion changed drastically when Christ was born. Well, it didn't. The way we worship changed after Christ was known to live on earth, but our God is the same today as He was in the beginning of time! The way we worship Him should be the same today as it was in the beginning – with absolute faith. The way we pay for our sins is the only thing which has changed. Christ came down to earth to lay down His life for our sins so we would not have to continue our meagre sacrifices but to offer praise and joy for His ultimate sacrifice!
We still need to depend on God for everything, having faith that His promises continue to stand as they have always stood throughout time. We need to listen to the Holy Ghost so we will find instruction and guidance in the way God would have us to live. We need to live our lives according to the way He wants us to live, not according to our own desires. We need to have compassion, not just for our friends and family, but for anyone who we meet. Christ never turned His back on anyone whilst He walked on earth. We need to follow His superb example!
Having compassion for others allows them to see we are different because of what we believe. When they see that, they will learn to have fear for God, for His ultimate power and excellence. They will see, through the Holy Ghost, that they too are sinners and they need to be forgiven by Christ as well.
But it is not up to us to be able to change our lives, but Christ alone who can do that. We cannot live a life which is without sin because we are so easily tempted by things and people around us. We need to depend on Christ for our salvation – we are as dirty rags before God, but Christ is able to wash away those sins because He has already paid that price for us. He alone had the wisdom to be able to thwart Satan. He alone has the wisdom to keep us safe from Satan. We need but to make a simple choice between Him and Satan.
Points to Ponder:
What was the last good thing you tried to do but failed at?
Are you ready to fully trust in Christ's promises?
October 8: 1 Timothy 6 7-12
Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6 12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Devotion:
When we were born, we did not come fully clothed with a big bank account to match! We come into the world naked and helpless. We cling to whatever is closest and instinctively know who our mother is. Yet as soon as we are able to understand, we cling to things around us such as money. We see the things that money can buy and pretty soon are trapped into the money circle. If we then allow that desire for money to be an unhealthy desire for more money, we fall into many temptations just so we can get more money. It is not the money which is corrupting us, but our excessive desire for more of it...
Why can't we be content with having clothes and food – like we were when we were a baby? We learn very quickly about money and its power from those around us. Unfortunately, many of those around us are not going to be Christians, so we learn their lustful ways. We see the things they get up to in order to earn money and we use them as an example to find ways of getting more money.
If only we were able to have someone like John the Baptist as our example for righteous living. We would then be able to see possessions do mean nothing when compared to the love of God. We would learn that money and the lusts which follow look very dirty when compared to the things mentioned in verse 11 (righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness). If we could gain such information early in our lives we would not strive to be rich with money and powerful in strength, but strive to be rich in God's grace and powerful in His Word.
We need to fight the good fight. Stand up to temptations. Flee from earthly desires. Aim for the one thing which will last forever – eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we aim for that and depend on Christ, we will be able to show others the good life like John the Baptist was able to. The only thing we need in our lives is Christ – He alone will supply our needs when we ask...
Points to Ponder:
Do you know of any rich people who are happy with what they have?
Do you know any Christians that are happy?
Key Verse: Psalms 118 6
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Devotion:
No matter how hard we try to do things, the most that we can do is physically destroy things. Beyond the physical, we have no power. The most we can do to any person or ourselves is to kill the body, but the soul cannot be touched by us! And yet God is able to do anything. If we are on His side, then we are surely on the winning team!
If we are for Christ, then He is for us. If we walk with Him, then He walks with us. If we turn our backs on Him, He patiently waits for us to turn back to Him. Once we have accepted Him as our Saviour, He is never going to leave us. Whether He is walking in front of us or behind us is our choice. Personally I would rather have Him walking in front of me so He is able to protect me from things ahead than have to save me after I trip!
Probably the best thing about being a servant of Christ's is to be able to observe divine justice. God is Holy and Just. Nothing He does is unholy or unjust. When those around us devise ways of tripping us up, as long as we are willing to trust in Christ, we will not be tripped up by them. We may even see how they trip themselves up when Christ shows His protection for us! But if we are willing to allow ourselves to be fooled by those around us into doing and saying what they do, we are surely turning our backs in God's face. Should we expect anything less than a rebuke from Him?
We see people around us promising us all sorts of things (be they relationships, money, possessions or any other riches) to which they want us to take heed. But if we allow God's Word to show us what is right and wrong, we will very quickly be shown whether they are for or against God. We need to trust God and His Word above those of our friends and even our family. God cannot lie. We see politicians and kings and queens telling us the way forward – but how many of them are telling you God's wishes and how many are telling you their own wishes to forward their own cause? God will never bend the truth in any way!
Points to Ponder:
Do you believe your friends work everything to God's Glory?
Are you persuaded by their vain glories or God's Glory?
October 6: Hebrews 13 5-6
Key Verse: Hebrews 13 6
So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Devotion:
Being happy is something we all aspire to – we seek things out which will make us happy sensing there is something out there that has got to make us happy. It is only when we have met Christ that we will know what happiness really is! Until such time, we have to continue to be content with what we have; but always seeking Christ.
We have every right to expect good things in our lives, but there are lines where we need not cross. One such line is the unholy, overeager desire for things which we do not have. Covetousness can rule our lives if we let it take a small hold. Many people use covetousness as the driving force behind their success – but when you talk to such people, they are never happy with what they have, always seeking something new to try and find that bit extra. It is during those times they get carried away with their desires and leave the needs of the people around them behind.
Being satisfied with what we have, here and now shows us the other side of covetousness. Not seeking things from the past and seeking things which are yet to come, but being satisfied with what we have in our hands... Whilst there is nothing wrong with having goals in our lives, setting those goals at things which are far beyond our reach leads us to covetousness. We need to be realistic about what we seek, always keeping in mind that it is God who is supplying our needs and upon Him we should be depending.
You may ask, “how can we be satisfied with what we have”. The answer lies in the last part of verse 5: “for He has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'” If God is for us, who can be against us! If God is our aide, who can stand up against us! He has promised to be with us and upon that we can depend!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get carried away with wanting things?
Would you feel guilty asking God for those things?