February 8: John 1 6-9
Key Verse: John 1 7
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
Devotion:
What is the first thing you want to do when you walk into a dark room? I reach out for the light switch so I can bring light into the dark room and see where I am going. I don’t want to make a mess of things by stumbling over them in the dark. I don’t want to make a mess of myself by falling over in the dark. That light is so that I can live a better life where there was once darkness.
I know there is a start difference between where I live and third world countries because they do not have the same facilities as I am privileged to have; but they would like to be able to have light in that darkness just as we do. It is not the luxury we want but the light itself we desire when we do not have it. Can you imagine the shock of seeing a bright light being switched on for the first time in your life?
Jesus came as that light into the darkness. He did not come to shock everyone with blinding light; instead He sent John in first to tell people of the light that was coming so they would want it and enjoy it when it came. Someone had to come and explain what was going to happen before the shock of sudden light came. But still some would choose to not want that light. Some would choose to stay in the darkness. Some would still be scared of the light.
Jesus wants us to continue explaining to people about this light. He wants to be able to show Himself to many more people without them being petrified of this intense difference between their darkness and the light of our God. The difference can be very shocking to those who are not prepared for it; but it can be the best thing in the world for those who know it is coming!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like light?
Do you explain God’s light to others?
February 7: John 1 1-5
Key Verse: John 1 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
Devotion:
Trying to start an engine the old fashioned way by cranking it over by hand is hard. Trying to push-start a car is hard. Trying to knock down a wall is hard. Each of these actions is against something that is not moving and which you want to move. The power to keep something going after it is started is often much less than the power needed to start things off… so starting off our universe was not just a random action but something which would have taken more power than we can imagine!
These verses describe Jesus as the Word (from the Greek logos) but not just any word, the Word was with God and is God. Our God has power beyond what we know because He spoke us into being and that same power is in Christ Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. Christ laid that all aside as He gave up His life for us on the cross. Jesus lowered Himself to be as a human being for this and showed us just how much He loves us. Not only was He there during the creation of the universe but He showed His love for us by giving us life.
That life was not a random chance event that happened because of all the right things being in the right place with the right energy and right power behind it all; that life was breathed into us by God as He described His love for us. Being able to create something is always enjoyable and fulfilling for the creator, but being able to make something that has use goes one step further. Being able to create someone goes the step beyond that as love is expressed.
Those beings who do not understand love could not understand why God would create us and why we would want to love God instead of them. Their greed and pride overtake their understanding and reduce them to hatred and despair. As long as we accept the love God showed us in the beginning and grow with that love we continue to grow with God and in His love. Enjoy it!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like making things?
Do you love the things you create?
February 6: Nehemiah 9 30-31
Key Verse: Nehemiah 9 30
Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
Devotion:
Be honest. Have you ever thought about how great it would be to be a prophet who was given commands directly from God and gave them to the people? Yes it would be fantastic to share the good news and the truth in such a way others would believe you without question; to give them a few words which would go directly into their hearts so they knew they came from God! But then you would also have to look on the other side of the coin… what would it be like to have to tell your friends and family God was not happy with them and they were about to go into a terrible war which would mean many people being left dead?
I think it is just the power that would seduce us and not the fact we are a prophet. It is the ability to tell people and they listened! At the moment we try to reach out to people and we are faced with empty church buildings, groups who want anything but the word, places where the world is lifted up instead of God. Nehemiah may have got these words from God and may have had the terrible task of relaying them to his people… but this is what we face nowadays too. We may not be hearing God talking directly to us but we do know what He is saying…
Once again so many around us are leaving behind God, leaving Jesus out of conversations, hiding the Holy Spirit… and still expecting revival to come to their land! This is not going to happen until people realise they may well be the ones blocking the Holy Spirit to start with. It sounds terrible that God would leave us to the mercy of the people around us instead of protecting us – but if that is our choice, what should God do?
God will not allow us to be utterly consumed by the world around us – but as long as we invite it in we are squeezing God out. It does not mean we have to all start acting like prophets or priests; but it should mean us inviting God back into the centre of our lives. God can do so much more when we do invite Him in!
Points to Ponder:
Are you squeezing God out?
Will you invite the Holy Spirit in?
February 5: Acts 7 51-53
Key Verse: Acts 7 51
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
Devotion:
How much do we get caught up in the letter of the law and how much do we leave common sense behind in those cases? A lot, really! It always seems much safer for us to cling to something written down than to dig down to the actual reason or the true meaning behind things. Why should we get all stressed or upset trying to find out the truth when we can just take someone else’s word for it and go with the flow? That is what it boils down to…
This is common to many people and is a common thread throughout the bible too; it’s not just us! Mankind has always been looking for a shortcut or an easy way out. When we should be giving in and doing what is right, it is often much easier for us to agree with someone we know is wrong just to make life easy. What we do not think about is the longer lasting effects of our dealings. When we choose the wrong path we make a whole lot of changes to our life and we have to cope with all those changes at the same time. That is not so easy!
God has given us direction in the beginning and we should be doing what we can to follow that direction. What we should not be doing is redefining the direction to suit our own needs. As time goes by we change a bit here and a bit there, eventually ending up with a set of rules that do not quite match up with the set God gave us in the beginning. It may be hard to admit an error, take a step back and have another go; but we really do need to do that sometimes!
The Holy Spirit is here with us to help us to make the right decisions and to keep on the correct path. If we listen carefully we will hear the directions and when we obey we find the right path. But with all the noise in the world around us we don’t tend to listen as we should, nor do we obey as we should. Thankfully God is patient with us and continues to allow the Holy Spirit to work with us until we do eventually listen – but we need to make that choice to listen!
Points to Ponder:
Are you a good listener?
Do you act on what you hear?
February 4: Mark 9 11-13
Key Verse: Mark 9 12
Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
Devotion:
So many people tell us about how much we should judge success by the things we achieve or the things we aim for or the things we can pick up; what about the person standing next to you? Jesus did not just look at Himself all the time and tell people all about what he was going to do, what He did and what He could do. Instead Jesus always included the people around Him in everything. Whether it was the children that the elders wanted to push away or the lepers who came forward for acceptance, Jesus did not turn people away.
Christ knew what was happening all around Him because He made it His business to know people and to listen to God the Father all the time. If we are willing to listen more to God and to His wishes in our lives then we too can walk a closer walk with all the people around us. I know we don’t all get along all the time and some of us tend to argue most of the time, but we should not be turning our backs on them just because we disagree on something. If they are in need then we need to extend our hands and hearts to them just the same.
Jesus talked about John the Baptist coming first to open the doors and show the way. Jesus knew what was going to happen but He also knew that this was the only way it could happen. Just because we don’t get our own way does not mean that it is not meant to be! If there is one thing that I have learned is that I do not understand God’s ways and I may never understand why… but I have faith and believe that it is the right way and the only way!
Yes, question God. But when He does answer, listen and obey! Yes, question motives, but when we are shown Christian love, trust it. Yes, question feelings, but when God opens up your heart be patient and wait for Him to fill that gap. It may be a long journey and it may feel very lonely at times, but God has a plan which is right and one that is required. Trust Him and have faith He knows what He is doing!
Points to Ponder:
Do you question things?
Why not?