August 26: Romans 1 16-17
Key Verse: Romans 1 16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Devotion:
Would you be able to sit down with a scientist and discuss the difference between evolution and creation with some degree of accuracy and confidence? Would you be willing to admit to a scientist that you will stick by what you believe? Will you be willing to point out the errors in a scientist’s theory and show them the Gospel?
It is hard to be able to discuss any subject without first doing some study on the subject. Most subjects in school nowadays are covered in some way by 'cheat notes' or 'quick study guides' that have been specially prepared so you will be able to know enough to get you through the subject come exam time. But in order to find out the full truth about the subject, you have to be willing to go out and find out the details for yourself. You should be willing to read up fully. You should be willing to check up on details to make sure the text book you are using is actually telling the truth.
For me, the explanation and understanding of God's Word come through reading it... If I am willing to sit down and start reading, God is willing to explain what I am reading through His Holy Spirit. He gives me the understanding I need. So many people who are not Christians take a look at the Bible and immediately shy away from it because they think the writing is old fashioned or they just cannot understand it. Well, if you stick at it a while, God will give you the understanding and will allow you to see the truth for yourself.
The Bible does not do a 'mind job' on you like many of the modern text books today. Many text books start off with an assumption and build up on that assumption. Some text books start with a theory and try to show that theory is possible. Not too many years ago scientists believed that if anyone went too fast they would not be able to breath... God's Word starts with the truth and is unique in being able to prove itself...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you read books?
How often do you read God's Word?
August 25: 2 Corinthians 7 2-7
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 7 5
For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
Devotion:
How many times have you gone somewhere and you have been worried about what you will say or do when you get there? I know I do have fears about going to any new places or going to face new things – it just me and I know I should not be worrying about the new things I look forward to because God is with me every step of the way; but still I fear!
Is fear as healthy as some say it is? Well, yes and no! We should not be blaze about going to do something new and different because if we go in with the wrong attitude we may well find we fall flat on our faces. We should be concerned and should think about as many of the things we will face as is reasonable; we should be prepared for many eventualities as we can. But fearing everything just because it is new is not that healthy – anxiety is something we probably all face at some time or another.
Rest is also something all of us need. God ordained it in the beginning by teaching us we need to rest one day out of seven; but that is not always practical for us in our modern lives so taking regular rest at other times is important and needs to be put in our schedules as a valid, required and regular event. And it is not just our bodies which require rest. If we are regularly fighting spiritual battles, then we need spiritual rest and recuperation times too.
Listening out for good news is always one way in which we can find spiritual rest just when we need it. God is not going to hold back the good times and the good events just because we are busy. He would rather show us He is there through displaying good tidings through others than seeing us work ourselves to the bone. Listen to what God does around you and not just to you!
Points to Ponder:
Do you always look for special rewards for your work?
Are you stopping to listen to what God does around you?
August 24: Isaiah 52 4-6
Key Verse: Isaiah 52 6
Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’
Devotion:
How many times in your life are you given a 'second chance', a chance to make a difference, a chance to get it right? How many of those times have you messed things up by repeating what you had already done wrong? How many of those times have you not depended on God but taken things back into your own hands and found yourself coming up short again?
Too many times we do exactly that – we think we have been given a second chance and we go at it head-first thinking we can get it right this time if we only try a bit harder... But the problem is our past attempts are what are guiding us. We have seen how close we got the first time and we try to modify it slightly the next time so we can get closer. Sometimes God just wants us to let go of our past and to move on into a new opening which He has created for us. He gives us a second chance and wants us to take it the way He wants us to – not the way we want to!
When the people of Israel were given a second chance by being freed from Egypt, they brought with them all the ways of the Egyptians under whom they had been enslaved. They brought corruption into an otherwise clean slate. When they were to be freed from Babylon they were to leave all the bad things behind and to turn towards and trust in God. They had to break free from their past and run into the arms of Jesus, Trusting in Him alone!
When we are saved, God is giving us that same chance. We need to put behind us the world that we have been living in and live towards Christ. We have to move on in our lives. That does not mean ignoring everyone around us, but changing the way we live our own lives – change them to live for Him! It is God alone who can make all the difference.
Points to Ponder:
When you make a new friend do you expect them to change?
Christ made friends of sinners – we need to change!
August 23: Isaiah 59 16-21
Key Verse: Isaiah 59 19
So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Devotion:
Just how far are you willing to go to forgive someone for doing something terrible to you? Is there a line that you will not cross? Is there a deed you cannot forgive? The one thing which continues to amaze me is the depth to which sin can take people nowadays. It seems like people are falling deeper and deeper into sin and further away from God. But the really amazing fact is how God is still willing to forgive even those sins – no matter how far sin goes, grace is willing to go one step further!
How sad it is that there is so much sin in this world, and yet not many people are willing to stand up against the tide of sin. People are walking away from God, running even, and yet others will stand and watch instead of trying to slow them down. Is it because they are not willing to forgive like Jesus can, or is it because they are judging others and don't think they deserve anything more? Which-ever way, they themselves are turning into the sinner – sinning against God for their own sakes!
It is right we do not have the power to forgive like God. It is right we do not have the strength to forgive. It is right we withhold forgiveness when it is due. But we can have an arms-bearer who will work in our stead. We can have someone stand up and work with us. We can have assistance to help us when we cannot... God has promised to stand by us, to guide us, to give us strength, to take on our burdens. His grace abounds far more than we can know – He wants us to stand and put on the whole armour of God to make sure we can stand against the wiles of the devil!
If we had to rely on our own strength, we would be flattened in battle on the first charge of the enemy. If we had to rely on our own knowledge, we would be out-foxed before the battle started. Thank God He stands before us in battle each and every day we ask Him to!
Points to Ponder:
Do you help your friends out when they ask for help?
How often do you stand and ask God to be your strength?
August 22: Proverbs 15 3-4
Key Verse: Proverbs 15 3
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Devotion:
If you were put in charge of a project, would you get everyone started, go off and have a holiday and then come back when it was finished? Or would you want to be close by and watch over everything to make sure it was all done properly? God is described as being the Alpha and Omega for good reason... He was, is and always will be ever present for us all. He is watching over us day by day, minute by minute, making sure He sees everything we do and say and think! He is making sure nothing gets overlooked. Not the good times or the bad times...
He does not turn His head away when we turn our backs on Him. He does not shy away when we shy away from Him. He does not lash out at us when we lash out at Him... His eyes are ever over us and trying to guide us in our every deed to make sure we can get to spend eternity with Him. He knows our true character because He has wonderfully and fearfully made us: Wonderfully because we are amazing; fearfully because we know deep down inside of us that He is our God.
His watch over us continues when we let loose with our tongues; When we start swearing and telling lies, He continues to listen. It does not mean He enjoys the language that we come out with, nor the attitude that we deliver it with – but He cares enough to try and discourage us from continuing to do things He does not like. Just like our parents will try to discourage us from doing bad things, He does too. Because He can see and know us wherever we are, He has a better insight into what we actually get up to and why.
Each time we swear and cuss, we are doing so in His face... not just near Him as He listens, but in His face! God takes a very personal interest in everything we do and because of that keeps a very close watch on everything. Doing anything wrong is doing it wrong in His face!
Points to Ponder:
Do you change your life in front of your parents to keep them happy?
How do you think of God in everyday life?