March 18: Job 12 7-12

Key Verse: Job 12 7
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

Devotion:
Do you ever think some people are just too clever for their own good or too something-or-other whatever that may be? Sometimes we look at others and ask ourselves, why on earth are they able to get away with that! We look at people ruining other countries, we look at people ruining their own lives, we look at people who don’t seem to care, and we think… why? Why can’t they see what is going on? Why can’t they look around themselves and see what is real? As Job says here, we only need look at the animals around us to figure out just how wonderful a God we have. We don’t need to go on a 10-year research trip to find out if there is a God. We just need to open our eyes!

But then we start to look at thieves and robbers and ask why they can prosper. We look at the evil and impious and ask why they are allowed to prosper. What are we actually looking at? What are we seeing? We are looking at the prosperity of one or two individuals in a world of billions. We are looking at the monetary gain of a few people when God is looking at the whole picture. Just like we might not be able to understand why the hummingbird seemingly expends so much energy to gain a small amount, we do not fully understand this world that we live in.

Take a look around and see the many wonderful things God gives us. Not just the money in our pockets but the grass on the ground, the trees, the birds, the deer and even the scores of rabbits. He is the one who is allowing each one of those things to prosper for a reason. He is the one who is allowing each of us to prosper. He is the one who is allowing the evil and impious to survive and even prosper whilst on earth… for a reason… If we cannot understand the simplicity of nature, then how can we hope to understand the complexity of the universe! God is in control! We just need to realise it!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you marvel at nature?

How often do you thank God for nature?

March 17: Proverbs 30 24-28

Key Verse: Proverbs 30 25
Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

Devotion:
You don’t have to go and find the biggest and best in order to find wisdom because there is so much wisdom in God’s creation – all we need do is look around us. What could be weaker than an ant? You can stand on them and kill them without even knowing about it. It is little wonder then ants are used in a proverb to describe someone’s utter weakness. And yet to watch them you would wonder about their intelligence. You can marvel at the amount that they are able to do, the size of objects they are able to pick up and even the way they gather together. Yet God has given these creatures the ability to go out and gather all that is required in the summer months so that they can survive the winter. What an awesome God we have!

Coneys, rock-rabbits, rock-badgers, whatever you would want to call them are another surprise that we overlook all the time. What else would make its home in the midst of rocks? Yet that is the place God has given them to have their homes, knowing it is the best possible protection for them from those they seek them as food. They feed on the things which God has given them amongst the rocks and have a fruitful life.

Locusts seem to be in a world of their own. Seeking one is nothing special, but when faced with a huge swarm of them, nothing is going to survive. Who is the one guiding them as they swarm, for they have no leader. Who is the one who gives them direction? Why do they gather is such numbers as to seemingly cover the face of the earth? Again, a small and insignificant animal or insect, but one that can cause havoc or cause us to marvel.

The humble lizard can be found almost anywhere in warm climates. From the rocks out in the country to the kings’ palaces, they can be found anywhere – just as spiders are found everywhere. Who, but our Creator, can keep an eye on all of these for us to marvel at. What an awesome God we have!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you stop to watch nature?

How often do you think about God’s Creation?

March 16: Ephesians 4 20-24

Key Verse: Ephesians 4 22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Devotion:
How many of us will go and get changed when our clothes get dirty? How many will change when we get wet? How many will change if our clothes are torn? Unless we have good reason not to, all of us would at least wish to get changed out of the clothes which are damaged or spoiled and put on new clothes so we would feel more comfortable – that is leaving out trends for going round in “pre-torn” jeans! We like to be comfortable and “right”. Even as far as our houses… if they are damaged, then we would seek a place to stay where we will be comfortable and safe again. We don’t like to have to put up with things which we know we can change.

So why should our spiritual lives be any different to our physical lives? Why should we have to put up with the dirt and damaged spiritual things we have in our lives? Why do we not turn away from them and turn towards something which is “right?” Well, just like the “pre-torn” jeans we have in our lives, we see things which are not spiritual and think they are in some way better than what we have. I mean, logically, torn jeans should be mended or thrown away because they no longer supply the protection they were designed for in the first place. But society has now deemed it “cool” to have jeans which look like they are older than us!

Just like a small child may find it difficult to change out of their dirty clothes, we will find it difficult to change out of our damaged or unclean spiritual lives. We need someone to help us to change. We need someone to point out when we are dirty because we may not think about the dirt because of all the fun we are having. Isn’t Satan wily! He continues to get us into situation where we will not see the damage we have done spiritually until it is too late. We need to keep Christ close to us so He can help us to stay clean even when we are having fun!

Points to Ponder:
How many times a day do you change clothes?

How many times a day do you bring things to Christ?

March 15: John 13 2-11

Key Verse: John 13 10
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

Devotion:
Our Lord Jesus has many in this world who are His; He has purchased them. He paid a dear price. His love for them knows no bounds and will never end. Nothing will ever separate them from His love. Who are these people? Believers… His Children…

Jesus came before each of the disciples in turn and washed their feet, just as a servant would wash their masters’ feet after a journey. With this single act, He told a great story, one which needs to be remembered by us all. Let us not forget He had come into Jerusalem on a mount (even if it was only a donkey) and was greeted and treated as a returning King. People were saying the King of the Jews had returned – much to the annoyance of the chief priests. But now, as He and His disciples were gathered, He showed His willingness to show humility by washing their feet. He reminded us, one and all, that we must never think anything is beneath us. No matter what the task is at hand, nothing should ever be seen as being beneath us.

He laid aside everything in order to take on this task so nothing would hinder Him. He gave everything up to take on the lowest task at that time. He, King of Kings, Lord of Lord, was at that moment, their servant.

He also did this to signify the need for spiritual washing, the cleansing of the soul. Without which, we would never be able to get into heaven. It is only through what Christ has done for us we are able to have our souls washed clean, so we may abide in God’s kingdom where this is no more sin! It is only Christ who can do that washing and He is willing and able to do it. He has already paid the price for it. All we need do is to ask for His forgiveness so He can do exactly that.

Points to Ponder:
Are you willing to do things like wash the toilet at home?

What would you do if Christ called you to help Him do something unpleasant?