November 9: 2 Corinthians 5 6-11
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5 11
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Devotion:
How do you treat your home? Do you ignore it and hardly ever go back to it, or do you always return to it knowing it is your home and you can have rest there? For those of us who are fortunate to be able to have a home, it is a place where we can always return for shelter and rest – not to mention the food, clothes and shower! It is a place where we know we are safe and secure; a place which has been reserved for us. We have probably had to work to earn our home, or maybe our parents have done all the work so far... but one day we too will have to put forward our own labour in order to gain a place to live and call our own home.
We have such a place in heaven. But unlike our home here on earth, our heavenly home has not had to be constructed by hand but has been made by Christ Himself for out wellbeing. It is a place we have not yet had to work for. It is a gift from God... What would you be willing to do if someone asked you “what would you do in order for me to give you a new house”? What would you put up with so that you could get your house?
Far too few people are willing to do anything for God even though they have already been given a place in heaven; as Jesus describes it “a mansion!” Don’t get me wrong, it is not a necessity that we have to do much work to secure our heavenly home – it IS a gift from God... But, one day, we will all come face to face with our Maker and we will then receive what is due to us because of the things we have done through our bodies. For those who do not turn to Christ, they will have to face up to the fact that they have chosen to try and pay for their own sins – and because of that they will be denied access to any place in heaven. But for those who turn to Christ, they will receive their eternal mansion... a place that will forever more be known as home!
Points to Ponder:
Would you rather have a house or live on the streets?
Have you accepted your free gift from God?
November 8: 1 John 5 18-21
Key Verse: 1 John 5 20
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Devotion:
It may sound a bit harsh to divide the world into two parties, for God and against God, but that is exactly what the case is. Those who believe in God belong to Him, whereas everyone else does not yet belong to God. I say not yet because it is my hope all will come to know God before they die, but sadly I know this is not going to be the case. True believers are of God, for God and with God. They will run their lives as best they can with God being the focal point of their lives. Those who do not wish to have God in their lives have their own gods whether they like it or not. Their gods may well be football or drinking or other things which are the focal point of their own lives; what their lives revolve around. Everyone who is not supporting God’s cause must therefore be against His cause. If we are not for God, then we are either ignoring Him or revolting against Him – both are working against Him.
When we start to focus our lives on God, we bring Him to the front of our thoughts. With Him in our daily thoughts, we are less likely to work against Him... What does that mean? Well, if we were walking along with a friend, we would probably not do anything which we knew would offend them. We would not go out of our way to do something they would not like because we know it would upset them. When we walk with God, we tend to think of Him more often and hence do not do things we know will offend Him. It is a life-changing fact.
Our problem is that we allow things to get into our lives because we see all the people around us doing things without regard to God. We are easily led astray and wander off doing things we know God would not approve of. If someone did that to you, would you think they had respect for you? We know what Christ has done for us. We know what we should be doing...
Points to Ponder:
Do you think your friends respect you?
How much respect do you show God?
November 7: John 10 22-30
Key Verse: John 10 30
I and the Father are one.
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered why some people will not believe Jesus is the Son of God or Jesus is God? Your first reaction may well be to say people find it hard to believe that all three can be one, that God is made up of three parts; you probably hit the nail on the head with that; it is difficult for us to think about how it can be possible. But it is not the thing which keeps people from believing the truth and accepting it. Christ wants us to believe and He has given us everything we need in order to believe; He has given us His Word which is enough to make a believer out of anyone!
The Jews knew exactly what Jesus was saying at the time, but under their own law, they could not charge Him with anything until He came out and said the words. But before He said these words, He described His followers as a flock of sheep again knowing people who were there and many more after that time would be able to read His words and realise the truth. His sheep are the ones who listen because they know His voice. They can only know His voice once they have been introduced to Him and gone to Him for protection. All others will hear His voice but will not listen to it because they do not see Him as their Protector and Saviour.
As Christians, we hear God’s words and we listen to them. We hear His instruction and we follow it. We are happy and content in our lives with Christ. We know Him as our Protector and Saviour. We trust Him in everything He says. We have no reason not to trust Him... And yet we still make ourselves doubt! We still bring up barriers which cause us to falter in our walk with Him. The Jews in the temple had their law as the barrier and they were not willing to bring that barrier down. So long as we are not willing to put aside things we hold up, we will not be able to enjoy our walk with Christ to the fullest! There must be no doubt in our minds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is God. He has plainly told us...
Points to Ponder:
How many times do people have to tell you things before you believe?
How many times must God tell you before you realise the truth?
November 6: Romans 9 30-33
Key Verse: Romans 9 31
but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.
Devotion:
Herein we have the difference between justification by the law and by faith. The Jews worked hard at being justified by the law; they tried hard to follow the law and to continue in that law. What they found was they could not keep the law and on too many occasions went against God because they wanted to keep the law as they saw it rather than what God had demanded. When the apostles went preaching the gospel to others (such as the Romans) they were able to gain righteousness by faith; by believing on Christ and following the gospel. They were not just doing what God had asked of them, but were sharing that action with others.
The Jews knew the scriptures and they tried to justify themselves because God had told them they were the chosen people. Instead of continuing to bow to God and His Word, they upheld the old traditions and the old law through works and not through faith. Back in years past they had to show faith by believing God would save them from others in wars and such like. When they upheld their faith, they won through. But now they were basing their religion on the law and not what was happening in front of them. They were not coming humbly before God but were lifting up the law itself as the be all and end all, basing things on observing precepts and ceremonies of the laws written down by Moses.
That stumbling block will continue to be there and many people, not just Jews, will continue to be offended by our belief that Christ is God and He is our Saviour. The truth is there to be seen in God’s Word and will continue to be faithfully told by many generations to come, right up until the time when Christ Himself will return with a trump and a shout! We need to remain firm in our faith that Christ has redeemed us with His blood and we will be presented guiltless before God because we have trusted Christ to be our Advocate. We will not be ashamed then and so we should not be ashamed now of the gospel of Christ.
Points to Ponder:
What do you base your life on?
Are you trusting firmly in Christ?
November 5: Acts 13 44-49
Key Verse: Acts 13 48
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honoured the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Devotion:
When it comes down to it, there is not that much we can do to convince people Christ is real and He is our Saviour. When we get up and try and tell people about God, many will not listen, many are set in their own ways and many will rebel. But one thing we can do is to show them the gospel. It is not our words which are going to do the convincing but the Word of God. It is not how good we are at talking or how expressive we can be, but the Very Word of God, covered by the Holy Spirit!
Paul and Barnabas were preaching God’s Word to the people who came to listen. That is what was turning their heads and that is what was doing the convincing. The only people who did not want to listen were the devout Jews who would have the most to lose. They are the ones who would have to give up their own intricate lifestyles and believe the simple truth of the gospel rather than their whole storylines they had embellished. The people who were not Jews were listening intently to the Gospel and wanted Paul and Barnabas to come back the following week. When they did, even more people turned up to hear the truth. God’s Word will not go untold!
As Paul put it, we have to hear the Word of God first. That is what will stick in our minds just as God wants it to. When we hear the truth, we will recognise it as the truth. We then have the choice of whether we want to follow it or follow our own story or desires. If we are willing to put our own feelings aside and take on what God has deemed right for us, we will be able to understand the truth as it is. Each one of us who believes in God’s Word and proclaims Jesus Christ as our Saviour will receive eternal life. Christ has already told us this fact and all we have to do is to hear it, believe it and trust in Him.
You may think that gossip spreads... you should try spreading the Gospel instead because it will always stand the test of time.
Points to Ponder:
Do you find it hard to explain God?
Have you tried God’s simple Word?