September 25: 1 John 4 1-6
Key Verse: 1 John 4 2
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God
Devotion:
As long as we are able to learn from God’s Word we will be able to discern teachings as being right and wrong; that is the way we are able to see whether we are being taught by someone who follows God or not. If we are being taught by someone or listening to someone preaching and what they are teaching does not agree with God’s Word, then we have found on which side of the fence they are – they are not for God. But it is very easy to listen to someone who is well spoken or who is quoting what sound like good scripture because they are normally saying all the right things which will make you feel good. But what they are saying has to be tried by comparing it with what God’s Word actually says, only then can we discern whether they are teaching Christ or not.
It is amazing to see how many people will follow someone who talks about people being blessed all the time or about love and good things; but those are not all of the truth. We know that we live in a world full of sin and because of that we will face good as well as bad. Jesus did not come to teach us only of the good but also of the bad things that we will face too. Some people simply do not want to hear the bad things and refuse to listen to them; but everyone wants to hear good things because they make themselves feel good too. You will see rapid growth in areas where only good is spoken of because people like to be uplifted but when they actually have to face something that is not good, they fall even harder because they are not prepared for that.
God wants us to be prepared to face our world that we live in, the face the people both good and bad. We can always stand by His Word because we know it to be true. We can compare things against His Word so that we can know what to do. We can live by His Word so that we know we are living right. Most of all though, we need to realise that what God has given us is sufficient. We have His Word which tells us all we need to know from beginning to end. Trust in it. Believe it. Discern from it.
Points to Ponder:
Do you always believe what people tell you?
How often do you compare what people tell you against God’s Word?
September 24: 1 John 3 1-2
Key Verse: 1 John 3 2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Devotion:
Do you feel like you are in a minority that is hidden from the rest of the world? It is sad to see how many Christians believe this is how they are viewed, and the rest of the world just does not understand then when they talk about the wonderful love of Christ. How else can we explain His love other than by telling of all He has done, is doing and all that He has promised?
It is also sad to see that so many children today are not well behaved. The children will say it is life or that everyone is doing it, the parents will say the children do not listen and the schools have to deal with the consequences... or ignore them! What a difference we see when children first start school and they first get introduced to a structured learning environment. Most parents will then be proud to say “that’s my child”. Most children will take note because it is a new environment and something different, but how they turn when they start seeing who is having the fun doing the things they are not supposed to do! How many parents are then willing to come forward and say “that is still my child”?
For our heavenly Father to call us His children shows just how much He loves us. We are those wayward children who have gone off the rails and have tried all manner of things that He does not like. We are those children causing chaos and getting things wrong. And yet, He stands by and is still willing to stand up and say “that is my child”... as long as we have acknowledged Him as our Father!
We have not yet seen the splendours that await us when He takes us home from our life on earth. We do not know when it will be or how we will get home – but He is waiting to take us all home because He loves us so.
Points to Ponder:
Do your parents still welcome you home?
Is God going to welcome you too?
September 23: Proverbs 31 28-31
Key Verse: Proverbs 31 29
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Devotion:
What do you look for in a relationship and how do you act in your relationship? Yes, we are all in some sort of relationship whether we think so or not; it may not be with our marital partner, or proposed partner, but could be with friends or family. How we act in those relationships will make or break them in the future. I know I messed up in relationships early on in my life because I expected things to be done for me rather than doing things and seeing what happened; we do need to get on and do things and not wait for the world to form around us.
Scientists may have come up with this really strange theory where everything was waiting for some big event to happen so everything else could come into life – it’s simply not like that. We need to have some intelligence, compassion and love to start the ball rolling. God started the ball rolling with love and compassion and continues to look out for us and try to give us what we need. Not just and intelligence behind the scenes but the love and compassion of our God all the way!
I don’t know if you have someone special in your life who seems to go out of their way to make sure you have what you need, but what about turning the world round and being that person who makes a difference in someone else’s life? Take those steps and make the difference; don’t expect to be praised about it and don’t wait for compensation before you continue – be there and change someone’s life.
But, when we step forward and try to be the change, we need to make sure we are constant in our doing and continue to be the change and not just be a fleeting ripple. God wants us to look out for those who are in need, the poor and infirm, but He also wants us to look after those we love around us and be here for them as they are here for us. I love being able to help others, not by giving money away because that tends to end in tears, but by stepping forward and being a part of their lives – hopefully a constant in their turbulent lives which will give them hope for a brighter future, one which includes God in every day.
Points to Ponder:
Are you ready to step forward?
Will you be more like Jesus today?
September 22: Proverbs 3 27-30
Key Verse: Proverbs 3 27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Devotion:
How often do you put off doing things for others just because you don’t feel like doing it now or even because you want them to wait on you? I know I am guilty of putting things off quite often still but I continue to try and live my life how God wants me to live it. One of the big things for me was to move from the countryside into a place where people are in constant need. It was not to do anything other than try to obey God in serving the people around me.
One of the big things I realised after being here for a few years is how things are not that different here in the city from what they were back in the countryside – it’s just that things were spread out over large areas and people tend to not take too much notice unless things are on their own doorsteps. I may walk to see people and could probably shout out to a few dozen people from my back door, but out in the country we had to drive to see people and did not always get to hear about the discomforts and needs of the people around us on time.
What I am getting at is that we have to be aware of the people around us, whether we live in a densely populated metropolis or a spread out farming community; people have needs and we need to care for them. Sitting around and waiting to see if anyone calls out for help is going to take a long time! But if we take the first steps and allow people to see how we are willing to help and be there, then they will take the first steps to let you see their needs.
The first step we need to do is to actively look out for needs and signs of needs, then we try to fill those needs by doing things, not by offering and waiting to see if they take you up on the offer. Jesus did not put it out there how He could take on our sin debt and wait to see if any of us would allow Him to die for us; He went ahead and did the action which showed people His willingness and His commitment. We now get to follow His example by giving and sharing and not expecting others to go out looking for help all the time.
Points to Ponder:
Do you seek help for every one of your needs?
Are you willing to help and fill needs before people have to ask?
September 21: Acts 20 29-31
Key Verse: Acts 20 31
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Devotion:
I wonder how much of an insight the Holy Spirit had given to Paul as he taught the Ephesians, and whether he knew how the church would end up there. Paul did know there was going to be trouble – whether that was from God or simple observations we don’t know. How much of this could be said about the churches we attend? How many people are in it for the popularity and not for God’s popularity? How many people are in it for the right reason to start with and then get carried away when they become popular?
I like to think I would never be counted in the number who want to become popular, and to that extent I do try to remain anonymous to a certain extent; but what would I do if I suddenly became a celebrity?!?
We are here to worship God and to bring glory to His name; how we go about that will make a big difference to how others take on the mantle after you. Paul was very emotional about his beliefs and he was not shy of shedding a tear or two when talking about Christ. God meant everything to him and the gospel message was paramount in his life. He had started off on the wrong foot by being opposed to God and being very religious, but God made sure he saw the light and changed his ways.
I do love talking about Jesus, but I don’t like people pointing me out as the one talking the talk. Paul knew he had made a difference and he knew people were becoming very aware of all he was doing. He may have used that to his advantage, but only to be able to reach out to more people and to make a bigger difference. When I see some of the big “church leaders” today I do wonder at their commitment to Christ. They seem to have everything whilst many around them do not. Being passionate about our work for Christ means taking on the care He showed as well and being with the people we care for and about.
Points to Ponder:
Do you live a different life to what you teach?
Are you God’s servant or His promotional assistant?