Tuesday 1 Nov 2011

Tuesday Reading: Acts 8 27-35



Key Verse: Acts 8 35

35  Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached the gospel of Jesus to him.



Devotion:

When we read through God’s Word we will probably come to a different conclusion than others who would read the same passage. If we were both Christians then we should be able to reach the same conclusion; but if a non-Christian were to read the same passage, they may well have difficulty in understanding it. As concerned Christians (I hope we can all call ourselves concerned Christians already) we should be willing to take God’s Word and explain it to anyone who is willing to listen. The more that God gives us to understanding, the more we should be willing to take that Word and show it to others.



So how do we get to such a stage as to feel confident to be able to explain the Gospel to anyone else? The answer is simply through guidance from the Holy Spirit. If we want to be able to learn God’s Word then we must be willing to sit down and read it; we should also be willing to listen to others that have already learned it so that we can understand it more. Philip was led to explain the Gospel to the Ethiopian as they continued on travelling; if we see anyone struggling to understand God’s Word or His ways then we should be willing to explain as best we can. Even if we only know one new thing we can explain that to someone else who does not yet know it.



Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to make sure that we do have the confidence and understanding that He requires for us to explain His Word to others. He is not going to leave us alone to see how we cope but rather to guide us every step of the way. I learned that the first time I went to a Christian youth camp because I was faced with a question I did not know the answer for – but by simply going to someone who did know, both the youth and I were then able to understand His Word better. God gives us opportunities where we have to be bold and take a step into what we may think of as the unknown – but He is already there with the solution for us, that is why He led us there!



Points to Ponder:

Do you get worried about not knowing enough?



Do your children know things before you teach them?

Monday 31 Oct 2011

Monday Reading: Philippians 1 12-20



Key Verse: Philippians 1 18

18  What then? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.



Devotion:

There are going to be times when we do not fully understand why things should happen to us but when we do have the time to sit back and think about why they happened the way they have, then we should be able to see why God has lead us down the path that He did. When we are able to look back and see what God has allowed in our lives we should be able to see that it was for His glory that we faced things. Some of those things may well be what we would not want in our lives but those same things may well be what Christ has allowed so that He can get the glory.



Whether it is being apart from someone for a long time, being stuck with someone for a long time, being caught up in a rough time or having an accident… God is the one who is in charge of things in our lives – so long as we do surrender to Him. I have fought against Him much of my life and each time I have done so I have seen how I have eventually fallen flat on my face. But each time I have truly surrendered to His will I have seen how He has kept me every second of the way. When we do place our full trust in Him as He has asked us to, then we do see how He can use us better than when we fight against Him.



It is certainly not a case of giving up and waiting for God to do everything in our lives because He has called us to do His Work and not to wait for Him to bless us! God wants us to know that all the work we do for Him is not going to be in vain but rather will be counted for us when we do finally get called home to be with Him. God wants us to be willing to step forward and to trust Him in His work He has for us. He wants us to give willingly and to trust Him. We may not understand His ways but we can certainly look back and see why He does things in our lives when we finally see how He has been given the glory.



Points to Ponder:

Do you aim to glorify God in everything?



Do you know He is working for you already?

Sunday 30 Oct 2011

Sunday Reading: Mark 9 38-41



Key Verse: Mark 9 40

40  For he who is not against us is for us.



Devotion:

How many times have you been uncomfortable with the way that other people do things? When we come up against someone doing something in a different way to us we are most often put on the defensive and shy away from them a bit because they are not doing it the same way as we would. When we feel like our comfort zone is being stretched, we tend to start backing away. Sometimes there is good reason for this because there are many times when we will be confronted by something that we think is not right – God has given us an inquiring mind so that we will search out all that is right.



But there will also be times when we are confronted by Christians who will be doing things differently than us. At those times we have to examine what they are doing and find out whether they are doing it for Christ. There are many different cultures around the world and many different ways of praising God; just because someone is not doing it in the same way as us does not set them apart from God. As long as they are following and believing the same bible truths as us, then surely they are working for Christ in the same way as us – just in a different manner.



Sometimes we like to think that we are protecting other by separating them from those other ways of doing things; sometimes what we may well be doing is restricting them to what we think is comfortable. We all need to be able to face up to new challenges and to new ways of doing things – how else are we to expand? We need to embrace all ways of taking God’s Word with us. We need to embrace all ways of teaching His Word. We need to embrace all those who go forward in Christ’s name because they are glorifying Him as Saviour just as we do. We are all here to glorify Christ, let us try not to trip each other up but push forward together in His truth.



Points to Ponder:

Do you get uncomfortable with the ways others support Christ?



Does Christ turn away anyone who is lifting Him up?

Saturday 29 Oct 2011

Saturday Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5 12-15




14  Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.



Devotion:

After another night of working with the youth it is quite clear to see what we should be doing. We need to step up and be counted as Christian workers, willing to come forward and show the youth of today that society has not rejected them, only people who do not care. There are plenty of us out here who do care and are willing to come forward because that is the way that Christ has taught us – and boy has He taught us well! It is not just to come forward and say Hi and ask them to come to church but rather to spread out our life-lines and show them that there is hope in a seemingly hopeless world.



The world around us says that if it breaks, throw it away and go for something newer and better. God wants us to endure and find out the right way. The world around us says that if you want to hate someone that is fine. God teaches us to love our friends and our enemies. The world around us encourages us to rebel. God teaches us to be calm. The world around us teaches us to bully the weak. God teaches us to comfort those that need it, supporting and strengthening them because that is what He has already done for us.



If we try to stick to God’s simple rules, exhorting, warning, comforting, supporting and being patient, we should be able to stand up and be counted as a Christian soldier with God as our Commander! We will always have our ups and downs and we will always see others with their ups and downs; that is just life and we have to live with those moments. But it does not mean that we have to let them rule our lives. We do have our Strength and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who has already made this all possible for us. All we need do is to rely a bit more on Him for guidance and to ignore the trapping of the world that look so good from the outside!



Points to Ponder:

How do you act towards others?



Are you allowing God to be your guide?

Friday 28 Oct 2011


Friday Reading: 2 Timothy 2 15



Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2 15

15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.



Devotion:

If we are going to be effective witnesses for Christ then we do need to have a few things straightened out first of all. The fact that we are witnesses for someone means that we do have to know them, know what they stand for, know what they want and know that what we end up saying and doing is going to reflect those things. That does mean standing up and being counted as a Christian and making sure that what we do is in fact going to lift up God and not anything or anyone else.



I still draw back when people say that I may be doing a good work for God because I know that I am only able to do what He allows me to do! I know that without Him and His encouragement I should not be able to do half of what He has called me to do. The very first time I was called to take on a youth group I was petrified by the task ahead. I knew how I had failed in my own family at times and I knew that what was being laid out in front of me was an awesome task. But God continues to guide me and strengthen me every step of the way so that I can be that effective witness for Him.



That does take a commitment from my part; and that commitment is to study His Word so that I can know what has to be done. Without that studying I would be just as lost as the people around me that I try to teach. Without that studying I would not know which way to face when confronted by new troubles. Instead I find myself doing things right before I realise it; if you know me then you know that that is not normal for me! God will continue to support everyone to the hilt who is willing to depend on Him and willing to commit to a life with Him. If we are not willing to commit them how should we even contemplate Him being committed toward us? It does take a commitment, but that commitment is certainly not one-sided like it is in normal life. Every step we take for God is multiplied by Him towards us!



Points to Ponder:

Are you struggling with your Christian work?



How much do you study God’s requirements?