Tuesday 30 Nov 2010


Tuesday Reading: Obadiah 1 15
 
Key Verse: Obadiah 1 15
15  For the day of Jehovah is near on all the nations; as you have done, it shall be done to you. Your reward shall return upon your head.

Devotion:
So many times we forget that God’s Word is the truth. I’m not talking about all the encouragement and history that we have through His Word but rather the fulfilled prophesies that we often forget. The more that we are able to read God’s Word (and for some of us that can just about read as fast as we can write or type – it takes a while) the more that we are able to learn just how special it all is. The more we can read it the more that we understand just how much the seemingly disparate parts all do actually fit together into one word.

Each one of the prophets was given messages from God to give to the people. This was not a bunch of people making up general things and seeing who could come close to the events as they unfolded but rather specific prophecies about people who never dreamed that a bunch of people would come out of the desert and overrun them! In this case the destruction of Edom is foretold long before it comes about. The rise of “antichristian” or heathen is described as being before the Lord would come. Oh how that seems to be echoed in life today as we see countries turning their backs on Christ thinking that they can somehow fix the mess they have created.

When Christ does return we will all have something to answer for. For those who consistently turned their backs on Christ, they will try to come up with some excuse as they face Him in person – guess what, no excuses. For those Christians who have rested and let others do all the work, they will find that they do not get what they think they may deserve at first... But as the truth unfolds, each one of us will realise just how much we do deserve; each one of us will realise just how much Christ did actually do for us. Then we will be truly grateful for all that Christ did for us! It is not our position to gloat or to complain. It is not our position to judge or to blame. It is our position to humble ourselves before our God because He is the one who has done it all for us to start with.

Points to Ponder:
Do you blame others for not believing?

What would Jesus say about your conduct?

Monday 29 Nov 2010

Monday Reading: Ecclesiastes 10 12-15
 
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 10 13
13  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is wicked madness.
 
Devotion:
The difference between wise men and fools is not always easy to spot at first because we all like to get caught up in the conversations and have and enjoy the repartees we make. A witty remake may well seem good at the time and may make for enjoyable conversations but unless it is adding value then is it worth anything; I guess wit and value are almost mutually exclusive. But let us not get bogged down in discussing whether wit is right or wrong but let us focus on purpose instead.

This morning I was listening to a conversation between an eminent apologist and a very learned doctor/professor which boiled down to the simple statement that we are here because we have purpose. If we did not have purpose then we would not be required and hence be useless; but each one of us has this inbuilt knowledge that we have purpose. I say knowledge and not thought because if it was just a thought then we do not have purpose yet.

I have heard a few debates between scientists and Christians where scientists try to debunk Christianity and the Christians try to debunk science but today’s discussion was a breath of fresh air; we need science to help us understand things but we also need Christ to fulfil our purpose. As a pure scientist we may well reach the conclusion that we are here by chance but that can never fulfil our knowledge that we have purpose. I would equate a scientist in this case to a fool with many words, hiding the truth behind an extravagant and very clever repartee. If he continues to choose to believe in his own folly then all he will gain is madness. For me, I continue to trust in my God who gives me wisdom through His creation!

Points to Ponder:
Science or philosophy?

Have you checked it over with God lately?

Sunday 28 Nov 2010

Sunday Reading: Ecclesiastes 10 2-3
 
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 10 2
2  A man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

Devotion:
Throughout our bibles the right hand has always been favoured over the left hand with the pre-eminent position being that on the right. This is not to say that “left handers” are always wrong but rather the majority goes... As a right hander I can safely say that my right hand is a whole lot more able that my left hand. I can throw, catch, write and do just about everything better with my right hand than my left. Being on the right hand side is taking up the position of honour, righteousness and even glory in God’s case.

So when our hearts are being described as being on the left or right it is not to say that we are physically deformed with our hearts being in different places (because they are in fact inclined toward the left) but rather to differentiate between positions of honour and dishonour. When we are following God’s Word, trusting it and listening to Him, He will be able to guide us on our paths. With Him as our guide we will find that our hearts will be lead in the right manner; we will be more able to offer help to others through our hearts if our hearts are in the right place first of all. Try balancing something with the weakest hand and you will see that it is harder.

If we put our trust in our weakest hand instead of our strongest hand then we are fools because we are trying to trust in that which we know is weakest! Why should our spiritual lives be any different? How can we expect to help others if we present our weakest hand forward instead of our strongest? Each one of us knows which is our strongest hand, our more dexterous hand, and our more able hand. When we are asked to put our best hand forward we will not submit our worst hand and hope that it will do the trick! God wants us to do that which is right and to always put our best hand forward in all cases. He does not want us to try our second best but to try our very best.

Points to Ponder:
Which hand is your strongest?

Are you offering others your best from God?

Saturday 27 Nov 2010

Saturday Reading: Luke 10 38-42
 
Key Verse: Luke 10 42
42 But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Devotion:
One thing I have found this short break is that I have taken note of other people... I don't mean that I have been looking or earwigging but rather that I have noticed when some partners have been cold to others... Some people just seem so cold hearted or disinterested that you wonder how they have ever been able to be in a relationship; for those who have been on the receiving end of these cases, my heart goes out to them! If we are able to spot something like this so easily, then can you imagine what God must think of us sometimes? I have been guilty of this in the past – being cold hearted or just plain “off” towards God!

Too many times we are like Martha and get so tied up in our surroundings and our lives that we make ourselves busy with all manner of things rather than taking on board the real task at hand. God wants us to love Him. The first commandment is that we love Him above all. Is that such a big thing to ask? Should we not already be putting Him first in everything in our lives? Not only has He created everything about us in the first place but He also laid down His life so that we may live. His demonstration of love towards us was total. Why should we do anything but love Him back?

But as I said, we do find any excuse to be able to busy ourselves rather than do what we should be. Before long it is then just a matter of course that we do not show Him our love at every opportunity. Before long we are the ones that look like we don't care! If we can spot those traits in others, then don't you think that they can spot them in us! Of course they can! How are we then to tell others of His great love for us if we cannot do the simplest of things like love Him back... It's not even as if we have to start the ball rolling because He loved us first! Mary showed her love first of all. We need to stop worrying about the world and show our love of and for Christ now!

Points to Ponder:
How do you show someone that you love them?

Are you showing God that you love Him?

Friday 26 Nov 2010

Friday Reading: Isaiah 48 17

Key Verse: Isaiah 48 17
17 So says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the LORD your God who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.

Devotion:
One thing that I have learned from the past few days is that if you want to be able to go on a long hike over a hill you have to take a map and you have to read that map regularly so that you know where you are! It is no use taking the map and leaving it in your bag because when you start to stray from the path that is when you need it, not when you have suddenly realised that you are completely lost. Fortunately my parents and cub scouts leaders had taught me to read maps when I was young. The first thing I bought was a map of the area so that I would not get lost...

Just because I did have the map did not mean that I did not take a wrong turn or two, but as soon as I referred back to the map I was able to find out where I was and decide whether it was better to back-track or to continue. Yesterday I was feeling good and decided to continue on leading for a walk that lasted a few miles more than I had anticipated... so today I take the short one!

We are very much like the hapless hiker in our lives and walk with Christ. We make snap decisions along the way and unless we are prepared and take God's Word with us, we will very quickly get lost along the way. It does not mean that we will fall down a cliff because we are not normally silly enough to take the short cut down the cliff! But it does mean that we are going to find that life’s journey may not be as smooth going as we thought it would be! All of us need guidance all of our lives. To think anything else would be plain dumb! Even if we do not like the way others think they know things, we must always rely on God's Truth all along the way. Right from the beginning God is trying to teach us the right way. As long as we are willing to follow His guidance we will find that we can thoroughly enjoy our journey through life with Him!

Points to Ponder:
Do you always seem to get lost?

Are you actually listening to God's advice?