Sunday Reading: 2 Corinthians 5 6-11
 
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5 11
11  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.

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 that it is your home and you can have rest there? For those of us that 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 that we are safe and secure; a place that 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 that 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 that 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 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?
 

Saturday Reading: 1 John 5 18-21
 
Key Verse: 1 John 5 20
20  And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us an understanding so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and the everlasting 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 that believe in God belong to Him, whereas everyone else does not yet belong to God. I say not yet because it is my hope that all will come to know God, 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 one they focus on. Those that 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; that is what their lives revolve around. Everyone that 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 that we know would offend them. We would not go out of our way to do something that 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 that 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 that we know God would not approve of. If someone did that to you, would you think that 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?
 

Friday Reading: John 10 22-30

Key Verse: John 10 30
30  I and the Father are one!

Devotion:
Have you ever wondered why some people will not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus is God? Your first reaction may well be to say that people find it hard to believe that all three can be one, that God is made up of three parts; you will be correct in that, it is difficult for us to think about how that is possible. But it is not that that keeps people from believing the truth and accepting it. Christ wants us to believe and He has given us everything that 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 flock as a flock of sheep again knowing that some people who were there and so many more people after that time would be able to read His words and realise the truth. His sheep are the ones that 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.

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 that He says. We have no reason not to trust Him... And yet we still make ourselves doubt! We still bring up barriers that 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 the barriers that 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 your believe?
 
How many times must God tell you before you realise the truth?

Thursday Reading: Romans 9 30-33
 
Key Verse: Romans 9 31
31  But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness did not arrive at a law of righteousness.

Devotion:
Herein we have the difference between justification by the law and by faith. The Jews worked hard at being justified by the law in that they tried hard to follow the law and to continue in that law. What they found was that they could not keep that law and on too many occasions went against God because they wanted to keep the law as they saw it rather than what God 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.

The Jews knew the scriptures and they tried to justify themselves because God had told them that 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 that 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 basing things on observing precepts and ceremonies of the laws written down by Moses.

That stumbling block will continue to be there and many Jews will continue to be offended by our belief that Christ is God and that 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 that we will be presented guiltless before God by virtue of the fact that we have trusted Christ to be our Advocate. We will not be ashamed then and we should therefore 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?