February 1: Philippians 1 8-11
Key Verse: Philippians 1 8
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Devotion:
As you read through your bible, take note of the people Jesus took pity on, take note of the people Jesus approached to give them the truth, take note of the people He loved. We need to take note of what Jesus did because He is our ultimate example by which we should aim to live and if He was willing and able to love those who seemed to be rejected by society, then we should be willing to do so too. However, we should not exclude those around us just to make a point of going after those whom society shows need it most because we may well have people around us that need our love and attention too.
Through our brotherly love towards others, we need to show all they do have someone who cares; through us caring, they will get to know why we care and hence get to know that Christ is the one who has given us the grace in the beginning. What better gift can we ever give to anyone other than Christ? The more that we are able to read our bibles, the more understanding we gain. The more we go out and show brotherly love, the more we are able to understand it too. Sadly, that seems to be one more thing society has forgotten about over time and all because they first took Christ out of their own lives.
God has given us His Word so we will understand more about the grace and mercy He has shown us so we can extend it to those around us. Yes, when people are facing rough times they do look out for places where they can gain comfort. Yes, we do need to step forward and show them how much Christ cares by showing them that we can care. Living a life which is different will set us apart and will allow us to be the example that Christ wants us to be to others. So long as we strive to be that example, Christ will strive to support us in our endeavours. We need to show people that we are different and that we are sincere. Christ showed us exactly that a few thousand years ago!
Points to Ponder:
Are you a Christian?
Do you live a different life?
January 31: Luke 18 1-8
Key Verse: Luke 18 8
I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Devotion:
The one thing God wants us to do is to stay in contact with Him always. We do that through our prayers, and we can learn what He would have us to do by reading His Word and listening to Him. Our bibles are just amazing... If ever there was needed proof that God knew what we would get up to in our lives the bible is that proof. No matter how far we get away from God and no matter what we get up to in our lives, He has already shown us what we need to do in order to get back to Him through what has been written down for us. When we get into troubled times, we can come to Him and plead with Him just as we may have to if we had been accused of something. He is more than willing to listen to everything we bring before Him and He is Just to make sure justice is served correctly.
This parable spoke of a judge who neither cared for people nor God. He just did what was right in his own eyes. But when the widow came to him and brought forward her plea, it troubled him, and he served to avenge her so his own conscience would be absolved. If we are able to make that sort of effect on a person who neither cares for us nor God, then how much does our word count for when we bring our worries to God? Our God is the Living God who cares for us in a way we cannot fully grasp. When we bring our issues to Him, He listens! It may take a bit of time for Him to answer us so that we will remember what we have been through and be strengthened to face the issue another day, but He answers us!
Take a good look through the bible and see how many times man has been able to fully depend on God. Take a good look through and see how many times He has defended His people against all odds. Take note of the times when He is the one that has stood up in our stead... What kind of God does that other than one who loves us fully? Lift up your prayers to Him always because He is in charge!
Points to Ponder:
Do you lift up your prayers to God always?
Do you read your bible always?
Saturday Reading: 1 Corinthians 15 52
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15 52
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Devotion:
If you get to read this, then you will know that things have changed in this world already because I have not been able to update my daily devotions. This is set to automatically publish itself about one week after I stop publish daily devotions... So one of many things could have happened, but you can count on me being a very happy man if my Lord and my Saviour has taken me to be home with Him!
I should never want anyone to morn my passing other than to know that I shall be missed. Whilst God continued to give me strength, wisdom and opportunity to bring you these devotions, I have done so. I have tried to bring you what I believe God wanted me to say. Often what has been said has been difficult to write because I know that God is telling me what to do in many cases rather than just me giving you His Word. But I have tried over the years of bringing you devotions so that you may live for God and want to live with Him.
He is my Saviour. He is my Lord. He is your Saviour and Lord as well. Just because I am not here to give you are small bit of His Word, does not mean that you should stop reading His Word. In fact, if this devotion ever gets to you, I want you to sit down and read your bible in the morning and in the evening because that is how I have been given His guidance for many years – through His Word. Why morning and evening? Because we have a special way in which we bottle up our feelings and allow them to eat at our hearts. Being able to start the day with God and to end the day with God will allow you to remain in focus with Him for a whole lot more of your day and even your sleep at night.
I love my Lord first of all and I have loved the privilege of taking what He has given me and sharing it with the world. For many years I have been writing devotions, but it has only been since I published them online and through an Android app that I have been able to encourage so many more people. That has given me a greater insight into God’s ways of fulfilling our needs by seeing just How He uses us and our skills to reach out to others. I pray that someone will continue with these devotions when I am gone.
In the words of the great Fanny Crosby: “To God be the Glory, great things He has done…”
Every yours
-DJ
I wrote this article a few years ago, but once again missed the fact it would be published! Yes, I'm still here and still continue to write devotionals for each day of the year :) God is good!
January 30: Hebrews 10 32-39
Key Verse: Hebrews 10 36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Devotion:
It is certainly no use saying “I am a Christian therefore I will not face afflictions”, nor is it wise to think you will become prosperous because God will give you money! When we confess our sins to Christ and ask Him into our lives, we face a new problem and that is the evil one will try to do whatever he can to turn us away from God again; so we will face afflictions, and then some! Our Christian spirit is not to be selfish and keep God to ourselves but to search for and reach out to others. We take pity on others and want them to find the truth we have found, even if it means having to face a seemingly uphill struggle... but none of this is of any great substance when we remember just how much we have gained.
Our happiness may not seem much on earth if we sit down and count all that comes against us, but our happiness afterwards is without limit. In mathematical terms our happiness is infinite and any number, no matter how great, is equal to nothing when compared with infinity; that is why we should count ourselves as happy in all circumstances! The greatest part of our happiness is not what God can give us here on earth but rather what He has promised us in heaven with Him. We need to have patience so we can put aside all we may have to face here on earth so we can enjoy the eternal promise of Christ our King.
When we finally die on earth, we will go to be with Him immediately where He will give us our just reward and cast aside our sin debt because Christ has already paid it for us. Our conflict may seem hard, fast and rather sharp at times, but it is nothing compared to the rewards we will face in heaven. Our duty is to live by faith here and now, knowing we will die in our faith and our souls are forever safe. We do not have to die to know our souls are safe because that is a promise He gives us as soon as we trust Him for the first time. So, when Christ says He is coming soon, that soon can be any length when compared to the eternal which is infinite... Trust in His promises because He cannot lie.
Points to Ponder:
Do you find yourself bogged down?
Are you remembering the infinite joy that faces you?
January 29: Lamentations 3 21-27
Key Verse: Lamentation 3:25
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Devotion:
It is refreshing to see hope in a book such as Lamentations where the prophet is lamenting of his life’s woes. In a book where there seems to be so many sad or discouraging texts this is written to remind us there is always hope if we place that hope in God. There were so many things written down where God’s children were shown evil and seemingly not defended when they turned their backs on God that it seems like we should all automatically believe in Him for fear of what would happen to us should we not believe. And yet we are still ignoring God’s Word in this day and age.
The only reason for hope is that God is merciful and continues to show His grace and mercy to all that seek Him. God’s compassion continues for us no matter what we do. He allowed Jesus to go to the cross even though He did not deserve it. He gave His Son for us so we will have yet another chance to live forever – He gave us hope! We can see the wasteland which surrounds Israel and be reminded of the power of God to lay waste to anything man can build up simply because he was warned against going against God but did not listen. But there remains hope as we see Israel flourishing today. We have been shown hope time and time again, but what do we do?
Time and time again, man has faced afflictions to encourage him to go in the right direction. Time and time again, man has turned his back on God thinking He will not help because He is allowing man to be afflicted. But God also requires patience... When prophets asked things of God, they waited patiently for the answer and God gave it to them after searching hearts. God is not going to answer prayers when we ask them without actually meaning it because He does search our hearts. God wants us to learn His Word from our early lives so we will remember it and be encouraged by it every day. He wants us to be patient and above all, never to give up hope because He is Just and will deliver us!
Points to Ponder:
How easily do you give up when things do not go your way?
Are you still hoping in God?