Friday Reading: Matthew 7 12-14

 

Key Verse: Matthew 7 14
14  Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 

Devotion:
Life is so busy! We are caught up in it. We can't get away from it... Or at least it gets to feel like that sometimes. Sometimes we crave to step off the merry-go-round and have a rest for a while. Sometimes we are able to and look back and wonder how we ever got caught up in it all. But when we are in the middle of it, we live for it; we don't notice just how much we are caught up in it until we find ourselves too tired to continue!

 

We may be able to compare life to things such as merry-go-rounds, fairs and even computer games. Christ had a very simple analogy that struck home. When you are too busy with life, you will probably not see the narrow gate as you run past it and will follow everyone else through the wide gate. But if we stop to take account of things, we will have time to see the narrow gate and choose it correctly.

 

Each one of us has that choice to make. We can continue running the rat-race and ignoring things such as our health and other people, or we can stop a while and see what is actually going on. When we stop to think and look around, we are going to find a whole new world; one where we can see the right choices to make, one where we can see others who need help, one where we have time to make important decisions!

 

Making those decisions and helping others to see which decisions are correct is so much more important than running with the crowd. Not only will we be able to do what is right, but we will be able to help others in that choice too. If we want others to be doing what is right, we need to start the ball rolling in the right direction by stopping to push it in the wrong direction in the first place!

 

Points to Ponder:
How often do you stop to think?
 
How often do you compare what you do with what is righteous?

Thursday Reading: John 12 34-36
 
Key Verse: John 12 36
36  While you have the Light, believe in the Light so that you may become sons of Light. Jesus spoke these things and departed and was hidden from them.
 
Devotion:
Just because you heard someone talking about a subject that was new to you, does that make you an expert in that subject? We may think that about some people who rabbit on about things that they know very little of, but we can see that they do not know the whole truth. As Christians we have already got to the point where we believe that Christ is real, that He has died and risen again and that He did so for our sins. We have realised His sacrifice and have asked for His forgiveness... but that does not make us an expert on the scriptures!

 

God wants us to be able to stand up for His Word, knowing what to be able to say when we are challenged so that others will not think that we are the great pretenders and that we don't know what we are on about. Imagine putting people off of the gospel just because we don't know the truth held within it! He wants us to be ready to sit down and learn from the scriptures so that we will know why we became Christians and why we need to give others the truth. We may not have needed that much convincing, but others around may well have to – who better than us to learn and pass on the required knowledge.

 

Here we see how Christ was trying to let the people know that the scriptures held the truth of what was going to happen. About how He would have to face amazing suffering and death... just for them... just for us... He did not want to shout in their faces about how He was going to pay an awful price, but He wanted them to be prepared for what was to happen. He wanted them to know that they can depend on the scriptures and that they need to study them to become knowledgeable and to be prepared for what lies ahead. We are still waiting for His second coming. We still need to be prepared!

 

Points to Ponder:
How much time do you spend learning about life?

 

How much time do you spend learning about God?

Wednesday Reading: 3 John 1 2-7
 
Key Verse: 3 John 1 4
4  I have no greater joy than these things, to hear that my children walk in the truth.
 
Devotion:
One of the biggest things in our lives is knowing we have made a difference! We like to think that the world is a better place because of us and that we have changed at least something for the better. In reality, we may never know just how much we have influenced others until someone actually tells us. In John's letter here we are shown the difference people can make in other's lives. He himself says that he has no greater joy than to know that the people he has taught are actually doing what he taught them and have continued in faith to follow Christ's teachings.

 

We may make some difference to peoples lives by introducing them to God and even teaching them more about God, but they are the ones that have to make the decision to follow Him. They are the ones that have to make the effort to do God's will and to learn God's Word. When they do that, we will be able to rejoice... not because we taught them, but because God Himself is being glorified through what they are now doing. What better praise could we ever get than to know that we have glorified God through what other people are now doing.

 

When I hear of the work that people do for God after I have lost contact with them for many years, my heart sings because I know that I am not alone in praising Him. I know that the people that introduced me to Him are happy when they get to hear that I am praising God every day and I know that I am happy when I get to hear of people that I have taught in the past have come to know God (even after they left my teaching!)

 

What a joy it would be to know that my whole family would be worshipping God in truth and faith. What a joy it would be to know that all my friends were doing the same. All I can do is continue faithfully in God's will so that others will see how wonderful my life is in God. Let God's light shine through you!

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you live a happy life?
 
What things do you count towards happiness?

Tuesday Reading: Philemon 1 4-7
 
Key Verse: Philemon 1 7
7  And they spoke to him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.
 
Devotion:
When we do live our lives for Christ we make differences in many people lives. It is not only our life that is changed but those around as well. It's not just a physical thing... We can be friends and influence people just by being friendly to them. We can change things by being kind to people. We can look after others through love and kindness. But to make that real difference God needs to be in the relationship as well. The love of Christ unites us in ways that we can only imagine. The love of Christ is going to help us remember people and to pray for them always. The love of Christ is going to help us to be there for people when they need it and to support them through His Word.

 

Supporting someone through physical means is always required. But when they is backed by Christian love, or better still, based on Christian love, then we know that whatever happens will give God the glory rather than ourselves. When Christ is in it we will see others love for Christ refreshed when we share our love. When Christ is not, we just see our love in action. The difference between physical and Christian love runs much deeper than we realise.

 

We may step in and help out our friends when times get difficult, but what about when times are good. People need love and support always, not just when they get down. Why should we wait until something goes wrong before we step in and help out. Christ wants us to be united together always in His love and not just when others need it. He wants us to remember each other day in day out and not have to only pray for each other in troubled times. Real love is Christian love and it is in action 24/7. It knows no bounds and knows no rest. Christ has proven what Christian love means, we just need to follow on.

 

Points to Ponder:
How do you show people that you love them?
 
Do you share Christ's love with them?