October 6: James 2 14-17
Key Verse: James 2 14
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
Devotion:
When Christ asks us to believe in Him, it is not just a saying that we must believe in but a whole string of works as well we words. Jesus did not come to tell us what to do and then go off to do something different. He did not come to tell us what we cannot do and then allow others to do that. Jesus came to show us how to behave and to tell us what we need to know in order to behave and to live with Him.
When we see someone in need we would not tell them that everything was going to be fine and walk off expecting them to go and do something to make it all fine again; we do something to make a difference so that it will be fine… or at least that is what we should be doing. In the same manner Jesus came to tell us it was all going to be OK and then made sure it was going to be by submitting to God’s will on the cross.
In the same way, just giving someone something to get them through a rough patch will not always be what is needed; educating them and encouraging them to be able to go forward in their lives and make something positive come out of the negative situation is going to count for more than just a gift. In order to help people in a third world country it is better to show them how to change their situation and give them all they need to change it than to try and change it. We may be able to change it the first time round, but a continual change is much better for everyone.
God wants to give us eternal life, and He has given every one of us that opportunity, but in order to gain that life He had to do something. He gave His own life so that we could have life. He did not just say it but came here to do it and show us how much He cares. When we tell others about Christ we need to make sure we follow it up by doing things to show them that Christ is real. Don’t just talk. Get out there and do it!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like spreading the Gospel?
Do you show people the Gospel?
October 5: 2 Corinthians 8 8-15
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 8 9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Devotion:
Have you ever thought about giving to charities, giving to people in need or giving to someone who is just not coping with what they have? How do you know how much to give? Have you been asked recently by a charity to give a certain amount every week or month to help others? What would Jesus do?
We can see what Jesus did do because we have the story written down for us as well as the wisdom that He gave the disciples to pass on to us. Do we sell up everything like Jesus told the rich man to do so that we can follow Him, or do we apportion a certain percentage, or what? The bible gives all manner of suggestions for various things but I think these verses should be understood by the people asking before they go any further. There are some who make you feel guilty for not giving enough, no matter how much you give. There are some who don’t even ask you to give anything.
But what the disciple wrote down here is that we need to balance what we give with what we need. There is no need for you to go into extreme hardship just so that you can make someone else’s life easy or more pleasing (I’m afraid I fall into that bracket because I tend to give everything and be in hardship before I can accept some people being in hardship). These are wise words because when you give so much away that you find yourself in hardship, how can you then continue to show others that you are happy about what you are doing? The first thing that is going to happen is that your hardship will get you down!
Then there is the other side of the coin. What if you don’t have anything anymore? Do you feel guilty because you cannot give anymore? Do others make you feel guilty for stopping giving? We have to remember that when we run out of things to give, we cannot give more! It is enough in these circumstances to be willing to give because God will still see that willingness. Back in the days of the exodus from Egypt, the people shared what they had to make sure people got what they needed. If they gathered too much it would only go to waste!
Points to Ponder:
Are you willing to share?
Do you know what God shares with you?
October 4: Acts 20 32-35
Key Verse: Acts 20 35
I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Devotion:
When Paul was telling the church elders how they should be living, it was not a case of him telling them all the things wrong or laying down the lay as to exactly how they should behave. Paul encouraged them to do what was right. There was no guilt trip telling the people how disappointed anyone was with them or how they should do more for God. Paul simply retold them the words and encouraging things Jesus had already told them.
One of the phrases that we use today in modern society is that it is better to give than to receive. But when you think that through it seems wrong because it is always great to receive gifts, so why should it be better giving them instead? What would you get out of it? That is the whole point here that Paul is trying to make. Stop thinking about yourselves and what you can get out of any situations. Start thinking about what other people will get out of you being nice to them instead!
When you work out that it is great to give because you are changing someone else’s life, then you being to see how great it is to love Christ and live for Him! It is not the great feeling that you get out of giving someone else a gift – that is you looking for a quick fix of some kind. It is not the fact that you have loads of money and can give it to someone else who really does need it. It is the fact that you are able to give, willing to give and you have just given.
People getting a free gift of any kind is great because by very definition it is free and probably unexpected. Again it is not what you get out of it but the presence of God when you lift someone else’s heart up. Don’t always seek what you can get out of any situation. It is not always all about you!
Points to Ponder:
Have you made someone happy today?
Are you sharing Christ with them?
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 6 18
And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
Devotion:
I wonder what most annoyed Michal in the end. Was it the fact that David was showing God more praise than he showed to her? Was it that he was acting like a child and being more joyful in front of God than in front of her? Was it that he gave all the helpers and servants gifts for being there with him and helping to praise God above all else? Whatever it was, her outburst did not please David and she remained without children for the rest of her days.
Sometimes we do have to look at what others are doing for God and not what they are doing for us. This is not all about how people behave toward us or what they can do for us. We are just another person in their lives – at least that is how it should be. It is God that their focus should be on and our focus as well! Yes we are going to be here for each other and we should be able to love and cherish each other is amazing ways, but lifting up God to His rightful place should be our primary aim.
David realised just how much God meant to him and to his whole household. He was willing to show God how special He was and that seemed to get up the nose of the family; but David knew that he was giving glory to God and that is what counted. It is a difficult thing to face in life because you know that if you choose God, people will not be pleased and that often hurts us. What we should also think about is how much it will hurt God if we choose other people and things instead of Him.
Christ has given everything to us. He gave us His life on the cross so that we are given the free choice that we deserve. God gave everyone that choice and it is only man who takes that choice away from man. Giving glory to God does not mean that we have to turn our backs on our friends and family; but it does mean them understanding that God comes first in our lives.
Points to Ponder:
Who is the most important person in your life?
How important is Christ to you?
October 2: 1 Chronicles 15 25-29
Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 15 29
And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.
Devotion:
When David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel he was a bit hasty the first time round, resulting in the death of Uzza because he touched the Ark. God had given clear and precise instructions about how the Ark was to be carried and just who was allowed to do so. The consequences of going against God are nothing short of dire, not matter how you look at it.
When David had sorted things out and straightened it all out in his own mind, he tried again to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. This time he made sure that all the right things were done and that everyone was listening to God’s instructions about what had to be done. He was not bringing the Ark back secretly but wanted to make sure that everyone knew that God was with them. What better way than to praise God and make sure others knew you were praising Him?
But, as in many cases, there is always someone whose nose is put out of joint because we dare to lift up the name of our God above them! No matter how much I love others, God is always going to come first in my life. Loving Him first of all gives me the love I have to love others, but that does not mean that they understand that because I am faced with jealousy and bemusement when I say that I love God more than them. If it was not for God showing me just how much I can love others as well as Him, then I should be in a bit of a pickle. Fortunately God’s love does not know any boundaries like ours does.
When I see someone in love it brings joy to my heart. When I see them in love with God, it brings sunshine to my heart. Don’t ever feel like you have lost someone when they turn round and tell you how much they love God because they will be able to love you even more by having God in their lives!
Points to Ponder:
Do you ever feel jealous?
Do you know God’s real love?