June 3: Genesis 29 15-20
Key Verse: Genesis 29 20
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
Devotion:
Do you look at working for God as a job, a pleasure or just something you do? How do you look at God’s work? And what has it got to do with Jacob and Rachel? When Jacob met Rachel he fell in love with her and wanted her to be his wife. In order to do that, he had to negotiate some sort of dowry to secure her hand; but at this stage Jacob had very little to offer other than working for Laban. He was quite willing to work for seven years in order to pay off that dowry and so he did, probably with a good and honest spirit, working hard. The time seemed to pass very quickly for him because he was focused on the future and what it would mean to him.
If we focus on our future with Christ, our future in heaven, then we should have no problem with working for God in a diligent and faithful manner; not because of any reward we will receive before we get to heaven other that the joy it will bring along the way. It is our reward of being there in heaven that should spurn us forward to be willing to do what God wants of us. Jacob submitted himself to Laban without question until Laban went back on his word. From our point of view we can always be sure that God will never go back on His word!
When we look forward to the joy and peace we will receive in heaven we will not take much notice of the suffering that we may face along the journey. Christ had to go through a lot because of our sins. We are living in our time of grace because Christ has already been through that all. When we sin we do not have to expect great punishment and suffering to compensate for that sin in any way; Christ has paid for it already. But when we do sin, we do so in the knowledge that we are working against God’s will in our lives so we should not expect too much reward!
We work for a fair wage, or at least we expect to be able to work for a fair wage. If we have eternity to look forward to then should we expect to be willing to work for as long as God requires it? It is a fair question and one that we all have to face, but one that God will answer differently for each of us. We are all different and we can all achieve different things. Being willing to work is the key here and not how much work we can actually do. God will use us when He needs us, we just have to stay willing at all times.
Points to Ponder:
Do you work for God?
Are you willing to work for Him?
June 2: John 13 1-5
Key Verse: John 13 3
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
Devotion:
Do you have a clear picture of where God wants you in this world? Don’t worry, most of us do not have any idea where God wants us until we do things wrong and end up being pushed and shoved in the right direction! But Jesus knew exactly what His mission was on earth and He knew exactly where He should be because He was listening to God the Father every step of the way. Yes it is hard to listen to God when we are surrounded by so much frivolity and noise, but try we must.
Jesus knew that the fate of mankind rested in His hands and that we were all depending on Him to come forward and do what was righteous. Jesus knew that it would be up to Him to bless people and that He would have to stand as judge to those who refused to trust in Him. He knew this came directly from God because He listened.
So what are we supposed to do if we do not ‘hear’ God talking? Who do we turn to and ask for help or explanations? How do we know if what we do hear or think comes from God and not from other people? The simple answer is that whatever we think we are doing for God must be compared to what we know God wants and that comes from God’s Word. If we are doing things for God we need to know that they are in agreement with His Word because He is not about to change His mind over anything He has had written down!
We are on a mission for God and that command has to come from God otherwise we are just doing what we think is best and not what God is asking us to do. Jesus was getting ready to go back to sit at God’s right hand and to be ready to come back again to sit as judge before all men. His current mission was to tell people of the Gospel so that they could face Him in final judgment as being saved and not as being unsaved. Christ would want all of us to be with Him in heaven - give Him the chance of saying yes now.
Points to Ponder:
Do you listen for God?
Do you trust His Word?
June 1: John 17 9-13
Key Verse: John 17 13
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
Devotion:
These words are just part of Jesus’ intercessory prayer for us and they are very powerful when read through carefully. It is so easy to skim through God’s Word when we get to parts we think we know but these are the parts we should be studying to find out just how much Christ does for us all the time. When He was walking amongst us in human form He continued to lift up His prayers to God both in private and in public, but these words were lifted up in front of the disciples as he stood with them.
Prayer is not just something we do from time to time but should be our earnest requests being made known to God. Prayer is very real and is here demonstrated by Jesus in a very real form. Christ acknowledges that God is the one who has given all mankind life and it is God who was placing the lives of the world into Jesus’ hands. It is God who we belong to and God alone who has all power over us; this is what Christ revealed.
And yet Jesus was asking that God would give each of us the Joy that He Himself knew. Jesus knew God because He is the Son of God and He knew just what God could and would do to save mankind, that joy being held firmly in His own heart. That is the joy that Jesus was asking that we should be able to share in, that deep set faith and knowledge that we are absolutely safe in God’s arms and that nothing could take us away from God.
I do that God that no matter what will happen in my life and in this world, I will still be safe in God’s arms because that is where I have my faith and trust. Jesus demonstrated this beyond what we can imagine but He did so for our sakes knowing that we could be in a similar position if we would believe and trust in God as He knew. Be bold in your belief and hold firmly onto your faith knowing that it is Christ who prays on our behalf all the time and not just us!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like praying for others?
Do you remember Christ prays for you too?
May 31: Acts 4 32-35
Key Verse: Acts 4 34
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold
Devotion:
When I look at some of the communities and societies around the world who act more as families than as villages or towns I marvel at how much they do for each other; and it is not just the Christian groups that do this! In fact there are many Christian congregations that are just as spiteful as the rest of the world and just as tied up in their own ways as the people who do not follow Christ. So what makes these people different? What makes them stand out for me?
For me it is the way that they act like the people of the early church acted; they willingly shared what they had with the other people of the church and to those around them that needed love and support. If we are not doing the same then we are living in the ways of the world and not in the way that Christ has shown us we ought to live. The apostles would not have encouraged this way of living if they did not fully trust in it and believe this is how Christ wanted them to live. If it is good enough for them then it must be good enough for the rest of us to follow too!
Giving does not just mean our physical and financial things. We are not all the same and we certainly do not all spend the same amount in the local shops! If we all tried to live on the same amount of money we would very quickly find many people are over-joyed and many are distraught they cannot spend money like they used to. We are different, accept that, live with it, but still share in what you have spiritually, emotionally and physically. Love people for who they are and not what you think they should be like. Don’t pull people down to your level because you think they are living above your means.
Building a better church should start with sharing love and community. If we cannot live together as a community then we are not going to get on very well in a church where we have to be together! Don’t make it a struggle to get on in church, make it a joy to live in church because your will be more encouraged to be there more often!
Points to Ponder:
Do you attend church?
Or do you want to be there?
May 30: Hebrews 6 9-12
Key Verse: Hebrews 6 10
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Devotion:
When I mentioned yesterday that God watches us with holy and just eyes I do not mean that He is watching us every second to catch us out as we do things wrong or trip up and fall off the path; all of us are going to do that from time to time whether we give in to temptation or just trip up and fall! I rather mean to say that God is watching us every step just as a proud parent would look over at their child in the playground. As parents we would probably talk to other parents about what we think of our children as they do things which we can be proud of. We are less apt to go telling others of all the things they have done wrong!
God watches over us with love and will not ignore any of the good things we do for Him and for His saints. When we give our lives to serving Him or serving others, we are doing this in His watchful gaze; what better way to make a parent proud than to do things which are righteous, uplifting and working toward love for one another.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to help out at a Christian festival where I could show my love to people from our churches as well as people from different countries. Serving others is what I do like best of all because I know that I am serving God; this is what he has called us all to do, to minister to the saints. I do not do this for any reward other than seeing the joy that God can bring into their lives. I give my time and life freely to God’s service because I know that it counts towards the relationship others can find in Christ.
God also wants us to be cheerful in our service toward Him and toward others. If we go round complaining about all the work that we have to do it is not going to encourage others to come and join in with this relationship you have with your God! It is the world’s best thing that we have not the world’s worst job! God is not slack concerning giving to us, but do not expect Him to give you a hidden treasure or a win on the lottery because those are things of this world and not of God. Righteous, faithful, loving and diligent work for God is not the same as the world would have you to believe. Love God. Work with God. Love the people and work with the people of the church. Make God proud of your ways.
Points to Ponder:
Do you work for God?
Does the world think you work for God?