Tuesday Reading: Romans 12 14-18
 
Key Verse: Romans 12 16
16  minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly. Do not be wise within yourselves.
 
Devotion:
Christ's definition of brotherly love is quite different to ours. We always have some reservations about someone or about something, whereas Christ held back nothing. When faced with people working or plotting against us, we need to bless them as people and not curse them. They are, after all, still people... We need to remind them of the fact that they are God's children as well, that we all are God's children who He wants to live together in love and harmony.

 

We can show our support to people in all manner of ways; by rejoicing with those that are rejoicing, supporting those that are suffering grief, not withholding these things just because they have done something against us. We tend to turn our backs on people that have done things wrong or have worked against us. We shrug off the cries for help or support from those that have upset us. We know it is wrong, and yet we try to do things our way, to please ourselves. What we are doing is elevating ourselves above others and showing them that we are above them.

 

If we are able to show love and compassion to anyone, it should be to those that work against us. We need to remind them that they still have a chance to get to know Christ, just like we have. When they do evil towards us, we need to show them good. People need to be reminded that there is good in this world and that they do not have to depend on evil. If at all possible, we should be living in peace; having to fight wars to uphold political arguments is not what God wants in our lives. How will He be able to show His love and support if we are fighting unjust wars?

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you argue at all?
 
How many times a day do you argue with God?

Monday Reading: Proverbs 26 4-5
 
Key Verse: Proverbs 26 4
4  Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him.
 
Devotion:
At first glance you may well think that these two proverbs contradict each other, but what they in fact are doing is strengthening each other. When we meet people that are non-believers, evil or contra anything, we need to be careful how we respond to them. If we respond in the wrong way, we will be weakening our position and strengthening their position or destroying ours and building up theirs.

 

There will be times when we just have to keep our mouths shut to gain the best advantage. At those times we may well feel like shouting back and giving them what they deserve, but keeping quiet may well gain us more. Christ, when He faced the Scribes and Pharisees, kept His mouth so that He would be able to have the last word on the cross. Like Him, we have to be willing to take the cause of Christ all the way – we are living for Him and not for ourselves. We need to listen to His guidance so that we will know when to keep still and let God do the work rather than thinking we can do it all! As soon as we respond by shouting or reviling, we are lowering ourselves to our enemies position; we are then no better than them!

 

We learn so much through doing God's will and through reading His Word. It is a pity not to actually use that knowledge when we are faced with people who clearly do not know about Christ. Giving them the chance to see just how strong a position we are in because of our belief is going to heap up coals on them and allow them to think about Christ too. Using the wisdom that God has given us through His Word will allow us to talk some sense to people who do not believe. Too many people believe that they can do things their own way. They think that if they are good enough, they will make it to heaven. They think that they will be able to make their own way there. We can see the folly of their ways – we need to give them knowledge of the one true way to heaven. They imagine their science and reasoning will get them places... the only place it will get them is head of the fools...

 

Points to Ponder:
Are you easily provoked?
 
Are you apt to believe people or God?

Sunday Reading: Psalm 144:9-15
 
Key Verse: Psalms 144 15
15  Blessed are the peoples who are so; blessed are the peoples to whom Jehovah is their God.
 
Devotion:
If we get gifts or favours from others, do we not thank them for doing what they have done? If people are kind enough to do things for us, should we not be thanking them for doing what they can? How about our leaders and those in authority? Have you ever thanked any of them? The one that is above us all is God and He alone is able to do all things for us. We are the ones that have to continually thank Him for each and every thing that He does for us. With each new day, God supplies us with more riches that we need to praise Him for.

 

Any good leader would want their subjects to be in good spirits, to be happy with their lot, to be content with their authority. Any good leader should be looking out for their people, making sure that they are protected and that they feel safe. When their subject ask for help and assistance, be it protection or aid, they should be willing to supply their needs. God places people in authority so that they are able to look after others. It is an awesome responsibility. David's desire for his people is stated in the last few verses.

 

Parents love to see their children grow up in happiness and in comfort. If there was anything that they would desire, it would be for their children's happiness before their own. To see them grow up as healthy plants rather than weeds gives them happiness themselves. God loves to see us grow up strong in His Word and depending on Him. He loves to see us grow up as the plants that He has planted and not the weeds that we tend to be if we do not listen! He loves to see us grow up strong in His Word so that others can depend on us because ultimately they will learn to depend on Him too. He wants us to lack nothing, to want for nothing; because such is His love for us. For anyone to love us as much as Christ does means that they are willing to do all things for us that we ask for. Asking means that we are depending on them – that is His aim, to make us realise that we can and must depend on Him!

 

Points to Ponder:
If you had children, what would be your first wish for them?
 
Are you rebelling against God's wishes for you?

Saturday Reading: Luke 6 43-45
 
Key Verse: Luke 6 45
45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth the evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
 
Devotion:
Why all the listening? Why do we need to listen to those in authority? We all aspire to live in a good world; a world where we can enjoy all things and not fight with anyone. If we want to be anything like that, then we have to learn what is right and what is wrong. When we have learned that, we need to apply what is good and avoid what is wrong. By doing that, we will then get used to doing and living with things that are right which will then mean that we expect things that are right all the time... But with so much sin in the world we have got the biggest uphill battle of our lives!

 

God has the ability to change peoples hearts for the better. Through listening to, learning and applying His Word, we are able to live closer to the ideal. When we have Him in our hearts, we allow others to see a bit of Him through the way that we act and through the way that we are. As long as we are willing to uphold His law and do His will, then we will be able to show others a part of the goodness that He shows to us. But as soon as we turn our backs on Him, we spew out all the garbage that is already in our hearts.

 

The biggest problem we have is that we tend to speak what is in our hearts. If we have learned to live in a particular way, then we are more likely to let things come our of our mouths that we have learn to be like. No matter how much we try to change ourselves, we will face a long uphill battle. Christ, on the other hand, can give us the strength to bring forth that which is good and to bury that which is rotten. We have been given the promise that He will do that for anyone who asks and that once we have accepted Him as Saviour, He will never leave us! With Him in our hearts we will have a much better chance of living the way that He would like us all to live!

 

Points to Ponder:
Do you see a difference in people when they fall in love?
 
Do see the difference in people when they come to know Christ?