Wednesday Reading: 2 Corinthians 8 16-21
 
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 8 21
21  providing for honest things, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

 

Devotion:
Nowadays we do not think too much about sending things through the mail or via courier services. We trust the companies that run these services with all manner of things because they have proven to be honest most of the time. There are a few cases where things have gone missing in the care of various companies, but these quite often get sorted out and explained. We, as Christians should be doing our best to continue in trust and being trusted.

 

God is the one that has given us all manner of things to look after in this world and it is our duty to be good stewards of those things. He allows us to have charge of things if He knows we can deal with them or if He wants to prove to us that we can deal with them. He is the one that knows the truth, we are the ones that need to show that we try to keep with that truth constantly. Being a good steward does not just mean giving things to others to do, passing the buck... we have to be willing to stand up and be counted as one who is trustworthy and willing to do the things that count.

 

It's not just about having physical things in our care, but also the Word of God. He has given us His Word so that we can look after it, make sure others get to hear it and make sure that it is passed on to further generations. Being a good steward means doing that which is right in the sight of God and also before men. Following the rules of those around us whilst we break God's rules is not going to make us honest – it will prove to a single person or ground that we will break the same rules as they do, but it also shows everyone else that we break God's rules. Standing up for God's rules will allow them to see that we will not compromise God's rules and prove that we are good stewards of His Word as well as someone that can be trusted!

 

Points to Ponder:
Do people trust you?
 
How much trust do you think God gives to you?

Tuesday Reading: Ecclesiastes 5 1-3
 
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 5 2
2  Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to say a word before God. For God is in Heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.
 
Devotion:
I wonder if you have been to a church recently when someone got up to pray and they made a bit of a scene about it. Maybe you know someone who likes to stand up in front of everyone and pray out loud all the time. Maybe, God forbid, you know a church where that seems to be their goal in life – to be the one that stands up in front of everyone and prays out loud. One simple rule should be followed... if you heart is not in it, don't do it!

 

That may sound a bit harsh, but think about it for a minute. If your heart is not in it to pray, then who are you fooling. You are certainly not fooling God because He will see right through you. We need to go to church to worship God and not to make a scene for ourselves or to take centre stage to perform for people – we are there to worship God and give God all the glory. Period.

 

When you are going to pray, don't just start talking as if you are gossiping with a friend, think about what you are going to say to Him. You are not talking to just anyone! Think about what you want to petition God about, stick to that, make it honest and real! God knows your heart, so jabbering on about anything that you see fit is not going to stick with Him! We dream about worldly things, we make pleasantries here on earth... We should not try that with God – He is not just another person! No matter how much we say or what language we try and say it in, if we don't know what we are talking about we should not be saying it! Reducing God to the level of a gossip pal is not really what any of us would want to achieve, so why do it?

 

Points to Ponder:
First week down... still sticking to things?

 

How about getting more honest with God?

Monday Reading: Proverbs 28 1
 
Key Verse: Proverbs 28 1
1  The wicked flee when no man pursues; but the righteous are bold as a lion.
 
Devotion:
Have you ever noticed how jumpy you get when you know you have done something wrong. You jump when someone walks in the room, you jump when someone knocks on the door... even when they have nothing to do with what you have done wrong! It's not just us, that is echoed throughout the bible right from the days of Cain and Able. We can read about how whole armies of men have been frightened by the sound of breaking pots and trumpets. Fear, when we have done something wrong, can eat at our very hearts...

 

But fear can also make us bold and brave. You would think that David, when faced with a lion against his sheep, would have been very frightened for the first time. But he stood up and counted on God to be there with Him. He placed his faith wholly in God's hands and was rewarded with bravery and safety. Daniel, when put in the den with lions held fast to his God and required His protection. God did not fail him. If we have enough faith to place our trust in God's hands, he will not fail us.

 

Fear must be directed where it is due. We need to fear God. Not as we fear a lion, but to give Him the utmost respect because we know that He is all powerful and that He is all knowing. He is our Creator, what more proof do we need of His power! Take a telescope and try and see how far you can see – how great a God do we have that can speak that into existence! Having a healthy respect for other things in our lives will allow us to live in safety. Having a healthy respect for God will allow us to live in absolute safety. That does not mean that we can tempt God by believing He will save us when we jump off a building. Being righteous does not include tempting others!

 

We are justified by His blood. We no longer need to fear death because He has taken on that price for us. We can look forward in the knowledge that we will go to a better place when our physical bodies meet their end. We can know that God is real!

 

Points to Ponder:
Who frightens you the most when you do things wrong?

 

Do you get frightened when you do things wrong against God?

Sunday Reading: Psalm 53:1-6
 
Key Verse: Psalms 53 5
5  There they dreaded with dread, where no dread was; for God has scattered the bones of him who camps against you; you have put them to shame because God rejects them.

 

Devotion:
Just what is it going to take to get some people to believe that God is real. They are given indicators each and every day about how great He is through everything in the world around them, and yet they still will not believe. When in that state of non-belief, they do, unfortunately, get into many troubles as well. Their ways are corrupt and can be seen by others, yet they do not see those ways themselves. They have convinced themselves that they are not wrong – or at least that is the outward appearance they give. For inside, they themselves do know they are wrong and it continues to eat at them.

 

They continue to treat some as if they were not people – you don't have to look too far to see many governments that do exactly that nowadays. They do not know the right ways because they refuse to listen to God's ways. How can they know what is right until they call on God for guidance? They continue to fight themselves. Their own doings are the downfalls – they build themselves up in their own eyes whilst all around see the falsehood of their work. They continue to see problems that are not problems because they cannot clearly discern what is right and what is wrong.

 

Because they continue to reject God, He has no choice but to continue to reject them. We are the ones that have to make that first move towards seeking Him. We are the ones that have to believe in God before He can support us. He will continue to show us the signs and wonders on this earth so that we can see that He is our Creator and our God, but we have to make that first move of belief. God has even given us His Son so that we do not have to sacrifice our own lives – what more sign do we need!

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you find yourself chasing your tail?
 
How often do you recruit God's help?