February 19: Isaiah 66 12-13
Key Verse: Isaiah 66 12
For this is what the Lord says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.
Devotion:
One thing which is always impressed me, and sometimes made me a bit jealous, is how a mother can always seem to calm her children down no matter what is going on around them! When Isaiah got word from God He was going to look after Jerusalem just as a mother looks after her children, I’m sure he was more than willing to pass this gem on to the people.
As we see the flooding in England once again after some pretty horrific rain over the past few weeks, we begin to see the unstoppable power of a river which is bursting its banks. No matter how much we try to build man-made defences against such occasions, they don’t seem to measure up to the power of nature. This is how we should be looking at the power of God as well. Not because of the destructive power but because of the unstoppable power…
When we are flooded out of our house or community, we feel separated from the rest of the town or city, but close to the people also affected by the flood. The same can be said about our Christian communities – we feel separated from the rest of the town or cities we live in, but close to other Christians we know. So how do we reach out to those we feel separated from?
The clue is in these verses which show us the unstoppable power and overwhelming love of God. This is the example we must live by and hopefully try to replicate toward others around us. Don’t cut yourself off any further than the overwhelming flood has done so already – rater use the power of the flood to reach out to others and invite them in to stand by your side. This is the way Christ wants us to be...
Points to Ponder:
What do you do when things go wrong for you?
Are you ready to reach out and invite someone in despite your circumstance?
February 18: Luke 15 1-7
Key Verse: Luke 15 2
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Devotion:
Jesus always had a way of using the current circumstance or conditions to His advantage in teaching the gospel. Here He was surrounded by all manner of people many of which were considered sinners or bad people by the Jews. This did not stop Jesus from giving them the gospel and encouraging them; something we often neglect because we consider some people as being not good enough or our enemies!
Jesus went on to tell them a few parables; the first of which was the Lost Sheep. He talked to them in a way they would be able to understand things – they knew the work of shepherds. If one of the sheep has gone for a wander, lost itself or got trapped in a ditch with no way out – the shepherd will notice one is missing and will go looking for it. We were born as part of the fold, belonging to Christ and being looked after by Him, our shepherd.
When we go off and get ourselves into trouble or get lost, God is going to come looking for us. He does not wait until we have to shout out for help and until the end of the day – He takes time out there and then to look for us in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. It does not matter that we may have wandered off by ourselves, or that we have got ourselves into terrible trouble because of how we acted – He still comes to look for us.
Now, this is where we differ from the sheep. God will find us and will hold out His hand for us to grab hold of, but we are given a choice as to whether we grab that offered hand, or ignore it! And yes, many times we do ignore that offered hand and try to dig ourselves out of the mire. Sometimes we feel too embarrassed and hide a bit more (as if we could ever hide from God!) But if we admit to getting ourselves in our tight spot and accept the hand God is offering, we will be saved from our troubles and He will direct us back to the way we should be… if we listen!
Points to Ponder:
How often have you got yourself in a tight spot?
How often have you fully accepted God’s helping hand?
February 17: Psalms 119 113-120
Key Verse: Psalms 119 115
Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
Devotion:
What takes your praise out of your breath? I know it is easy to forget to praise God, especially when things are going wrong in your life or even when things are going right! We tend to leave out the praising part because our minds are set on the things of the world around us rather than the things of God – like they should be!
None of us like people who constantly tell lies or who constantly spread gossip about others – yet we allow those things to consume our thoughts and take away our concentration of the very things we should be focusing on. We would rather get involved with what is going on around us than in lifting up what needs to be lifted up and praising those who deserve the praise!
When we start to feel overwhelmed by the things of the earth, we need to pray for strength to rise above those things so we can continue to focus on what God has in front of us. We need to focus on God’s law so we can allow others to see how important God is in our lives and not the world…
Remember that the things we feel are important in our lives will tend to get the most focus and attention from us. If we do not admit how important God is in our lives, we will tend to uphold the things of the world around us more than God! We need to remember just how much God has already done for us and to know He has promised so much more for us if we are willing to continue our communion with Him. When we focus on God and His ways, the ways and distraction of the world become just that – minor distractions we can move away from!
Points to Ponder:
What has the focus in your life?
Will you allow God to get more attention than your have given Him lately?
February 16: Job 31 16-23
Key Verse: Job 31 23
For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendour I could not do such things.
Devotion:
This puts a whole new spin on the duty we have toward those who are less fortunate than us! Job was not under any illusion he was above anyone or deserved anything more than any other person under God’s eyes! Indeed he was fearful the God’s destruction should he have fallen short in any one of these ways toward the poor and needy… so how do we measure up to Job?
I think the most amazing thing which drilled it home for me was walking into town with a very dear friend of mine. After walking past a person sitting down, wrapped up in blankets and clearly worse off than us, he went directly to a good sandwich shop where he purchased a hearty sandwich and a drink. I was hungry so also bought something to eat… but what he did next floored me! He went back to the poor man on the streets and gave him his sandwich and drink, wishing him well and blessing him.
There I was, thinking on myself, my own needs above those of a person who clearly needed it more than me – but my first thought was not for this poor individual, but for myself. It still makes me stop and do things for people who need our help!
God knew Job was an upright man and He knew Job cared for the people and not just himself; yet Satan was willing to try and break Job’s resolve by taking every blessing he had away from him and making him the poor soul who needed the support now. Yet, despite all Job went through, he did not blame God for anything which happened. One of his friends had suggested this all happened because he had ignored the poor and needy – Job knew otherwise and continued to praise God and not to blame Him.
What happens to us when things go wrong – do we turn round and blame God, or do we look for the next way we can bless those around us instead?
Points to Ponder:
How often do you bless those who need your help?
How often do you ignore those who really need your help?
February 15: Matthew 14 13-21
Key Verse: Matthew 14 15
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Devotion:
Jesus was no stranger to crowds! Everywhere He went, people would gather round and follow Him hoping to be blessed or healed in some manner. People were surrounding Him with their faith – in their belief that He was willing and able to change their lives; so much so they would not always plan their days accordingly.
If we are going to spend the day out then we make plans for getting food for our lunch time, either by making sure there is somewhere we can have a meal or by taking enough food with us in the form of a picnic or sandwiches. But when we get caught up in the moment, we do not always make sure those plans are set in place and that is what was happening here. The people were more interested in following Jesus and in receiving a blessing than in planning how they were going to eat and drink during their day out!
Even though Jesus made a point of taking a boat to stop too many people following Him, they continued to come out of the towns and walk to where He was. The more the sick and poor came to see Him, the more compassion He showed and the more people He healed. The more Jesus did to heal the sick, the more people seemed to gather around Him. Late in the afternoon, the disciples were getting concerned people would not be able to get food and drink because the crowds were so big. It was at this stage they asked Jesus to send people away so they would be able to have time to go and get food… but Jesus had other plans!
The fact there was not enough food in the crowd for even a small portion of the crowd was not an issue for Him. He knew His Father in heaven would answer prayers and would supply enough for everyone to eat and drink. Jesus didn’t just start handing out food, He stopped and took what was available and used it as an offering to God before asking God to bless the people. He then stepped forward in faith and took what they had and instructed the disciples to hand out food to everyone – as much as they needed! God answered their faith!
Points to Ponder:
Do you impose limits on God in your daily life?
Are you ready to depend on your faith?