Saturday Reading: Romans 9 14-18
 
Key Verse: Romans 9 18
18  Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens.

 

Devotion:
We quite often have a problem with people in charge because we think what they are doing is not right in some way. There are many cases where it is very clear just who is in the wrong and countries will go up against countries to try and restore order. In other cases people simply get annoyed with others and take vengeance on them because of their annoyances. But between people, it is always because one side thinks or knows that the other side is wrong. What of God? What happens when we think that God is wrong? What happens when we start to think that God has it wrong because we do not like what is happening?

 

Well, let’s take a legitimate case where a bank raises interest rates because people are being tempted to put too much on their credit accounts. The rate at which people spend on credit then begins to fall again and people will end up doing the right thing. The people who have already over-spent will not like the fact that they have to spend more in interest, but the move is for their good – even though they cannot see it. I know I have given a very simple argument here and that the money markets are far too complex (apparently) but the original ideas are the simplest!

 

God has all knowledge. There are no lies in Him. He does not make mistakes. We, on the other hand, all do. He told us up front that He will have mercy on those that He chooses and not on those that we think He should. He is the one that knows what is going on, not us. He is the one showing the mercy, not us taking it! He is the one that gives us what we need in order to make our lives better for His glory. He is the one that is going to get the glory no matter what we try to do because He is in control! Stop fighting Him and go with His example and His will. That way we know we are always getting what is best for us…

 

Points to Ponder:
How often do you parents stop you doing things?
 
How often do you listen to God when He wants you to stop doing things?

Friday Reading: Romans 3 1-8

 

Key Verse: Romans 3 5
5  But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who lays on wrath? (I speak as a man.)

 

Devotion:
The law cannot save us from our sins. The law cannot be abused to Glorify God. But, the law can be used to give us the knowledge that we need in order to be saved. The Jews had a distinct advantage in that they had the scriptures (the law) from which they could learn what God wanted. It did not mean that every one of them would believe those scriptures. It did not mean that their unbelief nullified the scriptures in any way. It meant that those who were able to learn the truth and act on it were able to forgiven, not through what they did, but through their belief.

 

There is no way that we can justify doing something bad that will “be for the greater good”. By doing that, we are saying that we do not trust in God to be able to do His will and that we have to do something against Him to allow Him to do His will… Not so good when we look at it that way! But that is normally the way that we work… We think that we can break a few rules in order for the rest of the rules to be upheld; but if we were to face God immediately after our doings, would we be able to stand up and tell Him that we went against Him for His sake? Most likely we went against God just because we liked what we were doing!

 

Our most abused sin is that of telling so called “white lies”. We tell a small lie so that we think that people will find more truth in another place or way. But what we are doing is casting the first stone by saying that it is OK to lie when God has clearly told us in the 10 commandments that we must not lie. Will that small white lie count against us even though God may have been glorified afterwards? Yes! If we want God to be truly glorified, then we have to trust Him to be able to do all that He has said that He will do. Trust Him by listening to Him and obeying Him. It’s not that difficult to listen to our parents so why should it be difficult to listen to God!

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to your parents?
 
Do you listen to God?

Thursday Reading: 1 Peter 2 20-24
 
Key Verse: 1 Peter 2 20
20  For what glory is it if you patiently endure while sinning and being buffeted? But if you suffer while doing good, and patiently endure, this is a grace from God.

 

Devotion:
It is said by many that if you want to impress someone then you will have to do something extraordinary for them; that may be something that you do not like doing or something that you think will not go down well with others. It may not be something that you have to do but something that you have to say. Peer pressure to do or say these types of things can be very great. Either way, you are elevating that person above others in some manner. Whether this is going to be a good thing or a bad thing is ultimately within your control, no matter how much pressure there is.

 

You may well look back on times like that in the future and be able to say whether it was worth it or not; whether it helped to build friendships or destroy them. Ultimately, if we do want to be able to show someone we care for them, we will have to be willing to go that extra mile for them to show them that they are extra special. It is not the fact that we can do things for them, but the fact that we are willing to do things for them, whether we are asked to or not.

 

There is no surer way for someone to show another their love than to be willing to die for them. (John 15 13) If you were able to step out in front of a car or bullet in order to save another person’s life, would you do it? Your answer is probably going to be along the lines of “only if I really do love them!” or “only if they will continue to do well!”

 

That is exactly what Christ has done for us. He did not qualify it by saying that we have to be good or that we have to do great things in return. His qualification was simply that He loves us so much that He was willing to do it. What does He ask in return? That we recognise that He has done this and that He is telling the truth. If we wish to follow His example, then we should be willing to do anything for everyone…

 

Points to Ponder:
How do you like showing your love for others?

 

Do you thank Christ for what He does for you?

Wednesday Reading: Galatians 2 19
 
Key Verse: Galatians 2 19
19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

 

Devotion:
No matter which way we look at it, we do seek some sort of justification from the law and that is our problem. We need to change our attitude towards the law and seek it for what it is and not for what we want it to be. If everyone was to look at the law as being exactly that, then we would have a whole lot less trouble in our world – but there are far too many who has a scant disregard for the law (be it God’s law or the law of the land).

 

If we were to treat law as more of a moral issue instead of a bunch of rules that we need to live by, we would be able to appreciate them more. In our families we are brought up to follow moral codes, yet in the open we are taught that laws are there to be broken. Society has turned the law on its head, not through dictating the law is wrong, but by openly giving examples of breaking the law, highlighting those examples and in some cases glorifying them. Is it any wonder then that we accept breaking the law as part of our lives now?

 

Can you imagine what Christ saw as He walked around amongst us, seeing us for the law breakers and benders that we are instead of the ‘upright citizens’ that we try to portray? I can almost imagine the hilarity of watching someone try to prove themselves when they have already shown themselves guilty… if only it was not such a serious issue.

 

We need to seek pardons, righteousness, acceptance, life and salvation through Christ and not through what we try to do according to the law. We need to give up our lives based in the law that excludes Christ and accept the law that is Christ. Only through that acceptance will we be able to gain forgiveness for the things that we do and think. He is already there, waiting for us. He is already there with His arms open wide to accept us. He has already paid the price; He just wants us to turn to Him instead of the world…

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you think that you follow the law?
 
Do you follow Christ?