Friday Reading: Acts 8 26-35

Key Verse: Acts 8 35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

Devotion:
There are so many things in life that we think are more important than others, but how much do you listen to God to show you what it is that He wants you to do? Yes it can be a hard thing to listen to God and hear all that He wants when we are trying to block out the things of this world. It can be difficult to set aside time to stop all that you do and listen out for God. We have read from our bibles that God may not be in the earthquake or the rushing wind but in the stillness instead. God may not be waiting for us in all the manic things of this world around us but waiting for us to shut everything off so He can have a quite word with us.

When you want to spend some quality time with the one that you love it is probably not going to be a good choice to go out to a night club or party; much more will be able to be said if you choose a quiet place where you can stop and talk and be heard. When we do stop and listen, we may find that God leads us to places we have not thought of yet either. Philip had not thought of waiting by the roadside to see who came along reading the scriptures; who would have thought of that! But God needed him there at that time to show the eunuch the Gospel message.

I may not feel comfortable in front of a rowdy bunch of teenagers waiting for the right moment to open the Gospel, but I know that this is where God has led me and I have listened. I know that it has been a very difficult journey to get here and I also know the noise of the world is far greater than I had previously seen. But every now and again that quiet moment passes by and we have to grab it and allow Gods Word to fill the gap.

But it is no use the bible being there by itself because the noise of the world has meant that the art of understanding the bible has been lost in this generation; they need teachers willing to explain what the words mean when they ask the questions. Teenagers get enough time in front of teachers during school time; what they need is someone who is willing to explain the questions they have as they come up… It is hard work, but I love it; please pray we can continue this work just as Philip was able to.

Points to Ponder:
Are you waiting in the quiet?

Do you answer questions?

Thursday Reading: John 3 16-17

Key Verse: John 3 17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Devotion:
God’s love goes far beyond anything that we could really imagine, but it does have limits. Just because He loves us does not mean to say that we are going to get everything we desire. Part of loving someone is treating them fairly and justly. When we mess us we should not be expecting to be treated the same as anyone who has not messed up. But the love that God show us means that if we do come to Him He is willing to put things aside when we ask for forgiveness and to then treat us the same as people who have not done the sins.

As humans we do tend to carry chips around on our shoulders, we remember things that have been done against us and forgiveness is not always something we can live with. God wants us to forgive and forget, but we tend to hand on and remember things. Jesus was given to us as a gift. He laid His life down on the cross for every person who is willing to ask for forgiveness, no matter how much sin they have done in their lives.

God’s love clearly goes far beyond anything we could cope with and that is what makes it unique and so very special. I thank Him always for all that He does for me, though I do not always see everything He does. I thank Him always for all that He means to me, though I do not always see everything. We are human and we have limits, but that should not stop us trying to live for Christ and it certainly should not stop us from coming to Him to ask for forgiveness!

Christ came into the world to save us all from our sins. He knows that we will not all turn back to Him because we are who we are, but that does not stop Him from continuing to try to reach us every day. Live your life as best you can, but always make sure that God is with you every step of the way. He is able to help you whatever state you are in, but He can help you much more if you are close to Him when you ask – that way you may well hear the answer instead of having to strain to listen through the noise of the world.

Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to the noise of the world?

Or do you be quiet and listen to God?

Wednesday Reading: Mark 10 42-45

Key Verse: Mark 10 45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Devotion:
James and John desired to be held in high esteem by Jesus as we probably all do so some extent, but we have to be very careful of what we do desire and the reasons why. If we are seeking self-praise or glory then we are not worshipping God but trying to lift ourselves to a higher place than He has given us. God has called each of us to be willing servants, to come forward and lift His name above all names, not our own. Jesus did not come into the world to be lifted higher than God, but came as a willing servant of His Father in heaven; we did the lifting as we realised who He was and is.

The same should be true in our lives; we should not be seeking to be lifted up as the greatest narrators, teachers, preachers, bishops or whatever but rather to be seeking to do as much as we can for our Lord and God. If we do get acclaim for what we do then we need to make sure that others realise that it is God who has given us the gifts and we are His willing servants.

I used to think that by doing what I could, I would be able to reach more people and make a bigger difference in this world. What I have learned is that I should instead be more willing to take on what God has given me to do so that I can give Him all the glory that he alone deserves. I love being a techy person and realise that God has given me these strengths for a reason; there are many people out there who love technology and mixing their love for God with technology reaches them on a whole new level. It is still the very same Word of God that is reaching them, but in a different way!

God can use us in ways we have never thought of before; we must be willing to be used of Him and be willing to come forward and do the work that He asks us to do. It is not always an easy thing to do; putting aside everything you have worked for or everything you have held dear so that you can work for Christ and with Him can be very daunting when there does not seem to be much reward. Being a servant is not all about earning as much as you can, but doing what God designs for you.

Points to Ponder:
Do you have a successful life?

Do you do your best for God?

Tuesday Reading: Matthew 26 26-30

Key Verse: Matthew 26 28
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Devotion:
At the last supper Jesus instituted what we now know as the Lord’s Supper where we do the same thing in remembrance of all that He did for us. It is a very special time for us because we can relate to this moment when Jesus Himself was sitting down with the disciples and said these words. But it is also a reminder of the promise that Christ gave us to show that He would return and take us home to be with Him in heaven one day.

This act of the breaking of the bread was a separate thing to the rest of the Passover meal that they were celebrating and we do need to remember it for what it is rather than just being part of this last Passover meal they were having together. Jesus wanted them to remember the fact that He was giving His own life for their sins. Just before this He reminded them that Judas was about to betray Him, and immediately afterward told Peter that he would deny Him as well. This is about the forgiveness of sins.

But none of this is done without God the Father. Jesus lifted the bread up and asked God to bless it before they took it so that they would remember that it came from God even though it was in remembrance of Him. The reminder was that Christ would be broken just as the bread was so His forgiveness could be shared by all around the table and not just the ones sitting each side of Him at the table. Jesus paid this price for all of us who come to Him.

Jesus also reminded them that they were to share in the wonderful and eternal life in heaven which awaits all of us who invite Jesus into our lives. Each one would be given the chance to see Him again in a restored and resurrected state to show the power of our awesome God. Jesus set aside drinking in celebration with men from this time onward knowing that He would have to face so much pain and suffering in order to take on our sin debt. We must remember all of what he has done for us and we should do so in celebration of what is to come.

Points to Ponder:
Do you thank God for your food?

Do you celebrate what He has done for you?