Monday Reading: Matthew 12 33-37

Key Verse: Matthew 12 37
37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Devotion:
When I was much younger and lived in Zimbabwe we had various fruit trees in our garden; each tree would bring forth its own fruit and they, strangely enough, would never get mixed up about what fruit they were going to bare! Even fruit trees of the same type would have fruit that was distinctive to that single tree rather than a blend of generic fruit, be it apples, lemons, oranges, bananas or whatever. It also depended on where in the garden they were as to whether they would flourish or not – those trees on the edge of the lawned area getting a bit more water when the lawn was under sprinklers for instance.

If any of the trees get infested with insects or too dry because of the lack of rain then they would not bare as much fruit as they would when in ideal conditions. It was also amazing to see that good weather had a lasting effect on the trees because they would become strong and give more for longer.

So if I was going to make a lemonade I would not go to the lemon tree that had small lemons that were great to eat, but instead to the tree which I knew would make a whole lemonade from a single fruit. I certainly would not try looking at the banana plants for lemons. So if we wanted to ‘grow up’ as a tree that could be used for making lemonade, we should not aim to be the best banana plant! But how can we pick what we want to be?

Well, God has given each one of us a choice in our lives as to what we want to be. It does not mean that we will always make the right choices, but if we are willing to listen to God to find out where He wants us to be, then we are going to at least know in which direction we should be headed. We may well take a few years to get going in that direction and to change our ways to line up with God’s ways, but so long as we are willing to listen and be moulded by Him, we will have the best chance possible! We are born to this world as sinners and as such are pretty useless to God; but by allowing Him to shape us like a potter shapes clay we will be able to grow into something that is of use to Him. Being careful about how we act and speak will help us to grow in His ways rather than in the ways of the world; being careless of our ways and speech will only lead to self-destruction.

Points to Ponder:
Do you think you are a ‘good lemon’?

Are you willing to be squeezed by God?

Sunday Reading: Proverbs 13 2-3

Key Verse: Proverbs 13 2
2  A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Devotion:
I love the way that the proverbs show us such simple truths in a way that we would view two things as being as different as chalk and cheese; what a saying that is! We don’t often view this world and God’s world as being as different as chalk and cheese because we are always looking for ways in which we can live in this world with God or take God’s ways and bring them into the world. The only way that we think we can achieve this is by mixing the two together in some manner; whereas God would have us to separate them as far as we can instead!

We are reminded that the world’s ways and His ways are very different in so many places in His Word, but none more so than being reminded that what comes out of our mouths is going to dictate what comes back to us in our lives. If we are going to be obnoxious in our discussions with others then should we expect anything else other than people to be obnoxious back to us? Or if we cause others to argue then should we expect anything else back other than harsh words?

I know that it does not pay to generalise, but in this case we can because we are not speaking of a group of others but rather of ourselves if we go the way of others. If we act like non-Christian people then the world is going to see us as being non-Christians; the world has no problems with generalising anything and everyone. And the more that we go in the way of the world the more we will be labelled with them and even pushed into mixing with them because others may well be turning their backs on us just because of our actions.

But if we are willing to try to still our ways and the words, trying to be more like Christ, then others will see us as being different from the world – hence we will no longer be labelled as being just another person. There is no way that we can work our way to heaven through doing the right things and saying ‘good stuff’ but it is going to help to focus our ways and our minds on Christ instead of focusing on the world. If we want to be separate then we should be aiming at being separate and not just saying things… God wants us to act differently and not just to say that we are different because it is going to be those actions that speak so much louder that the words that we try to say to others!

Points to Ponder:
How do you think others see you through your words?

Are you lifting up Christ through your mouth?

Saturday Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4 13-18

Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4 17
17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Devotion:
What better way to remember this week other than to be reminded that we shall be with Christ in Heaven when He comes back to call us home; and that goes for all the Christians that have died before us as well. When we die we go to be with Christ and when He returns we shall all be together with God forever more.

When people are far away from us or worse, when they have died, we feel helpless in being able to do anything for them. Yes we can keep in contact with them through various means but that never quite seems to be as good as being by their sides or to hold them in an embrace. I long to be able to embrace some of my friends who are asleep as much as I long to embrace those that live just round the corner and it is because of what Christ has done for us that we will be able to do exactly that one day again!

When our lives are done on earth we no longer have to worry about what we should have to do in order to continue on in life because we will have eternal life with Christ. Nothing we can do will ever change the fact that we are same in the arms of our Saviour because it is through His strength and might that we are kept and not that of our own. Imagine having to cling to the edge of a cliff for your life? Just having a safety rope there in case makes all the different, but having your feet on firm and sure ground is even more assuring! Christ is that rock, that safe ground, that immovable and sure foundation upon which we rest and continue to grow. It is only our choices to move around on that rock that make us feel ill at ease, but the rock itself will never let us fall.

There is coming that day when we shall see our Lord and Saviour face to face, not some apparition, vision or picture, but actually being with Him in person! It is not going to be any ordinary day because if we are still here on earth when He returns, we will go to meet Him in the clouds! And if that is not enough we are going to be re-united with all those saints that have already died as well – together we shall be alive forever more!

Points to Ponder:
Who do you look forward to meeting once again?

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Friday Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2 17-20

Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2 17
17  But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

Devotion:
Have you ever wondered why you cannot be with the ones that you love all the time? It seems like the world is a small place when we can call, text, email or meet through various social media sites on the Internet, but when you look at the distances that actually separate us, they are a bit of a challenge! Now can you imagine what it would be like to have to walk that whole journey instead of taking a car, boat or plane! We do take various methods of communication and transport for granted nowadays which help us to make the world a smaller place. It is amazing to see how far God’s Word can go through something as simple as a daily devotion…

We may miss each other when we are apart from our friends and family, and we may rejoice when we meet up, but none of that is going to compare to the day when we can be together forever with all the other saints in Christ! As with Paul, I count it JOY that I am able to reach people with God’s Word and to encourage people from around the world.  It may seem like a small cottage ministry in numbers but I know that God’s Word will never return void and that each of you are encouraged by these words almost as much as I am encouraged by writing them. My personal hope is that God’s Word comes to you each and every day so that you will never have to feel alone, no matter what corner of the earth you are from.

No matter how small a difference each of us thinks that we actually make in this world, it is the fact that we are making a difference that counts. Yes Christ was able to make a difference in many more people’s lives because of the things He was able to do; but His words to us that we should take the Gospel with us wherever we go must encourage us to do exactly that. If we feel alone when we are not with our loved ones, then imagine what it must be like for someone who does not know Christ at all? Can you think back to the days when you did not know Christ and how you felt when things went wrong? Can you remember the gloom that came over when you realised that there was nobody there to hold your hand? Because we have been able to hear God’s Word from someone else we have come to know and love Jesus Christ as our Saviour; and because we now know Him as a forever friend, we shall never be alone and can look forward to that glorious day when we shall be together, forever.

Points to Ponder:
Do you feel alone at times?

Do you remember the Holy Spirit is always with you?