August 27: Psalms 32 3-5
Key Verse: Psalms 32 5
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Devotion:
When you get into trouble, do you admit to your wrong-doings, or do you try and water down the truth so that you may not get into so much trouble as you think you would! Maybe you are thinking that by diluting the truth a bit you are able to pass the buck on to someone else so that you don't have to take all the blame. Or maybe you are thinking that by diluting the truth you are able to make things look a little less bad!
We live in a world where God is everywhere, God can see everything and God knows everything, even every thought that we have. How can we hope to hide any part of the truth from someone who knows it all to start with?
An important part of our Christian lives is that we do acknowledge our sins, confessing them to God when we do sin. That means telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth when we do. It also means confessing as soon as possible, not building up a years worth of rotten things and then letting them all come out at the end of the year! Yes it is hard to admit your mistakes as soon as they happen.
God wants us to confess our sins all the time so that He can wipe them away. We know that they have been forgiven by Him giving His life on the cross, but we still do have to let them out. The longer that we hold those things inside us, the longer that they have to twist us up from the inside and the longer they have to wreak havoc in our lives. But as soon as we are able to let them out, the quicker God is able to take them away for us. Imagine not being able to throw garbage away for a few months at a time. Imagine the smell that would build up around the pile of garbage in the heat of summer! Imagine now, being able to throw stuff away as soon as you can and not having to empty out the garbage bags/bins?
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel good when you hold things inside for too long?
Are you ready to confess now?
August 26: Numbers 21 31-32
Key Verse: Numbers 21 32
Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
Devotion:
It's all very well sitting back and saying that Satan is doing what he can to destroy our lives or we are being attacked and even to say God is our protector… But what happens when we do let our guard down and things go wrong? What happens when we are seduced by the glossy things around us? What happens when we just don't seem to see it coming!
Modern warfare seem to be all about the intelligence and how that may be used to defeat the enemy. Satan has a myriad of spies running round us all the time gathering intelligence that can be used against us, to show up our weaknesses and allow him to exploit them. Just like the Children of Israel used spies to go into cities to find the weak points or to spread descent before a battle, Satan is doing that in our lives right now.
But spies can be used in a defensive way as well. If you are able to find out more about how the enemy is going to attack you, then you can build up your defences against the enemy. Now I am in no way saying that we should attempt to go one-on-one with Satan! But with God's army next to us, we can do anything. But why let it get as far as a full blown war when we can break down the attack before it happens? Why let Satan start the war at all when we can avoid it!
We are surrounded by things all the time that will deviate our focus on God. We are surrounded by temptations that whittle away at our defences. If we give in to those temptations, we are allowing Satan to start the fight. But if we can learn about what Satan is trying to do in our lives and avoid those circumstances, then we can avoid starting the fight all together!
Points to Ponder:
Do you join in a fight just because it looks like it will happen?
What do you do with warning signs?
August 25: 1 Corinthians 12 12-19
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12 14
For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Devotion:
I'm sure that you have all heard of sayings like “a chain is only as strong as the weakest link”. Well, without each one of those links, no matter how weak or strong, a chain would just not be a chain! By definition, a chain is a whole series of links linked together. Just like our bodies are many different parts all trying to work together in harmony, so too are many things around us. Can you imagine a house without doors or a plane without wings? Whilst it may be possible, they are not the expected norm.
But what happens when the weakest link breaks in the chain? The chain is now no longer a single long chain, but broken and not as useful as it was to start with. It would be difficult for a plane to fly without wings or for an army to succeed with most of the people absent or on holiday. Each group of things needs others things in the group to succeed.
In our lives we have to come up against many different things including others who may work against us. If we give in to the things or allow them to affect our work in one way or another we may not be as effective as we were before we gave in. Temptations do not harm us until we give in to them. We need to remain strong by ensuring that we work together and not against each other. Any team is much stronger and more effective when they work together.
Sometimes the best thing we can do is to build up our defences making our situation safer and stronger. If we wait to see what happens when things go wrong we often find out the hard way it could have been handled in a better way! But if we are prepared to go out and do a bit or reconnaissance, we can find out where the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses are and try to build up our defences accordingly. Be prepared! Use all you available skills and use them wisely. Know your friends so you can combine your skills. Know your enemy so you can defend against their skills.
Points to Ponder:
How many people in your team?
Are you a team player for God?
August 24: 1 Corinthians 12 4-11
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12 7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Devotion:
Some of you may be so scared of heights that you would never contemplate abseiling in any way. Maybe you will be the one that has immense joy out of sailing. Maybe you will be the one that is able to create fantastic works of art. Maybe you can direct people, films, plays or whatever. Each of us has been given gifts from God that are unique to us. Could you imagine a place where all people are only able to do the same thing? Maybe everyone can make cars, but nobody can drive them. Nobody would benefit from having cars made…
When someone turns round to you and tells you how useless you are, or how bad you are at doing something, you can always take comfort in knowing that you can excel in ways they cannot. But if you know you are very good at doing something, then you should try and use that gift for one purpose and that purpose should be to lift up the one that gave you the gift. We should never go out to try and boast that we are the best at something unless you are telling everyone about how God has given you the gift of being able to be the best in the world!
Likewise we have no cause to judge anyone as to how bad they are at not being able to do something. Yes, we can help them to understand what they are doing right or wrong in our eyes, but it is up to them and God alone to be the final judge. We can help someone to know they are slipping, or we can help others to know they are succeeding.
Our success is based on how we use our gifts. Our success can only be judged by our maker, God. What we should be doing is trying our best to use the gifts we have been given to glorify God. Tell people how God has enabled you to do the things you do. Tell them how wonderful God is for allowing you to do things and to use your gifts and skills. I know I have gifts and some people get very upset with me when I try to use those gifts to help others; but I try to make sure they know God is in control!
Points to Ponder:
What are you really good at?
Do you acknowledge God when you do things?
August 23: James 1 2-6
Key Verse: James 1 5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Devotion:
What would happen if you were to try abseiling from a tall building without a rope? Well, let's just say that it is a long way down, and the pavement is very hard! When you go over the edge you will start to fall. The fall will be very quick and you will not have must time to think about anything. When you hit the bottom... that will be it... nothing more... no more abseiling, no more hotdogs, and no more second chances. But if you were doing it the proper way, you would be able to enjoy the view (if you could open your eyes), you would get down safely, and you may even do it all again in the knowledge that it is safe to do so!
So when you go back up again for another try you almost leap off the wall before the rope is securely tied and in your rush you slip as you get over the edge! Everything flashes before your eyes and then you feel the safety rope is secure and you settle down again for another safe landing. The next time you remember to keep your footing more surely and check everything before you start. You have learned from your mistakes. People notice you making the extra safety checks and preparing properly…
By doing that, you are showing others that there is a good way of doing it that makes things better and safer for all and gives the maximum enjoyment all round.
Learning from your mistakes is one thing, but being able to listen to others so that you can learn faster is often a bit harder to do. God wants each of us to learn things the best way, from the best possible instructor. Our instruction manual is the Bible and it does contain all that we need to know.
Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to your instructor?
Or do you think you know better?