December 29: John 10 22-30
Key Verse: John 10 24
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Devotion:
I am sure each one of us at some time or another have expressed some sort of doubt as to our faith or belief in Christ. But as for the other way around – Christ has never doubted us. There is a big difference between not knowing but having faith to believe and all-knowing and having the knowledge! Christ's mission was to allow people to find belief and to have faith in Him as their God. All the miracles which are listed in our bibles are there to give us the understanding that we need to know He is God. Everything He did gave glory to God the Father and with words like these plainly telling us that He and The Father are one, why should we have any doubt?
That doubt comes from within each one of us. It does not come through anything God did wrong, nor does is come from anything He did not do. Christ did enough to prove Himself and to allow others to find that belief. He did enough to build a foundation which we can depend on. He did enough to tell us who He is. He did enough to allow each one of us to be saved because He took on the sins of the world. All we have to do is exercise that faith.
The Jews which He talked to here did not want to believe because it would have meant changing their ways entirely. He described how He is the shepherd and we are the sheep, but they did not want to believe. All those who accept Him as Christ, Saviour and God will be given the wonderful gift of eternal life with Him. It does not say that all who believe will no longer doubt... because that doubt comes from within us. It is purely within our heads or hearts because He is our Christ; He is our Saviour and He is our God!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you doubt things?
Have you ever known Christ to doubt you?
December 28: 1 John 2 15-17
Key Verse: 1 John 2 17
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Devotion:
It is so easy to get carried away with all the new things and the sales and all that glitters at this time of year, forgetting about the real meaning behind Christmas. People will come on TV and tell you it is all about being with families and all the merriment which goes with that; but truth be told, it is all about celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. All the frivolity and commercialisation of Christmas has forced us to forget what it is about.
We can argue about what colour clothes father Christmas should have on, we can argue about where the tree came into being... but all those things are things we have introduced to make a party out of a holiday. The more the shops get hold of the idea, the less Christ is in Christmas. I am heartened to see many places actually writing out Christmas in full still, but sadly it is not always for the right reasons. Now is probably the best time to spend your money because of the savings you can get, but remembering the true meaning of Christmas should have been the focus of our Christmas day this year.
As we get closer to the end of the year, we start to make up lists about what we should be doing next year or what we are going to leave behind... Think about the things you have done this year, think about the things you could do next year; but most importantly, think about the things you could be doing with Christ by your side. He came into the world to seek the lost and give us all the gift of Eternal life. That gift was nothing He bought with money. The gift was not the biggest box under the tree. The gift was not the shiniest under the tree. That gift was a gift from the heart. A true gift. Batteries not required! An everlasting gift!
Points to Ponder:
What did you get this year that is already gone?
How do you thank Christ for your gift from Him?
December 27: Mark 3 31-35
Key Verse: Mark 3 35
Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.
Devotion:
Do you ever wonder at Christ's life on earth and wonder if He gave special care to Joseph, Mary and their children? Well, I am pretty sure He would have had a soft spot for them because they all grew up together, but Christ knew from the start He was here for all people and not just for His earthly family. We need to take some examples from His life and apply them into our own lives – one of those being our extended family, the church family.
We come together to praise and worship Him in church where we show each other love and care, but what do we do when we leave our church buildings? Do we go back to our “normal” earthly lives, or do we continue to be the Christians that we proclaim to be in church. Too many people do live two lives, one in church and the other out of church. Christ, on the other hand, lived one life which was constant. Wherever He went and whatever He did, He showed His eternal love for all those who would be willing to accept it. Whoever was willing to follow God's Word (i.e. To do His will) would be given the same love as a family member.
We need to stand up to that sort of faithfulness and show those around us just how much we do care. It saddens me when people around me show no respect to Christ, by using His name in vain or by simply ignoring the fact that He exists. It saddens me to know they are not sharing in the same love I have from Him, that same care I have. It is because I do feel like I belong to the family that is God's children that I can know He cares and know He loves me. Just showing a bit of His love to others can encourage them to seek what I have found and to belong to this same family.
Points to Ponder:
Did you feel loved when your family gave you your presents this Christmas?
Have you thought of the gift Christ gave you this Christmas?
December 26: 1 Corinthians 3 10-15
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 3 11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Devotion:
What sort of year have you had this year? Has it been a year where you have grown in Christ, or a year that you look back on and think how much more you could have done? Well, I would hope for each one of us it will be a mixture of both of the above; a year where we can look back and see how much we have grown in Christ, and a year where we can look forward to the things that we will be able to do for and with Him.
Unlike the apostle, I am no wise master builder... I see myself more as the apprentice brick-layer continually working at building a wall. Sometimes I see the wall as shooting up and others I am not sure as to whether it is going up or not. But with Christ by my side, I continue to build upon the foundation that has been planted. It is as a trusting apprentice I build on the foundation, respecting others who have come before me to lay that foundation, trusting wholly in it. It is with faith I have to trust the foundation because I cannot see anything but the top of it, but I know it is there because I can see the wall growing and being supported. I am told it will hold the whole house without problems, and even be strong enough for extensions to be built after I have finished.
That foundation is Jesus Christ. He is the one who has totally secured the building site so we can all build with confidence. Now what we build is going to be judged by others as well as by Christ. What we build is going to be seen by others. We may be able to hide a few imperfections behind a bit of paint and things, but Christ can see through everything we build. Others will judge us for what they see but Christ will see us for what we are and what we have done and what we are doing. Living our lives for Him means doing exactly that, living our lives so He will be happy with what we build on His foundation. There is a difference between building for the world and building for Christ – we have to make sure that our focus is on God!
Points to Ponder:
Do you ever worry that you are not doing the right thing?
We can build anything on our true foundation, but will Christ like what we build?
December 25: Luke 2 1-14
Key Verse: Luke 2 14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
Devotion:
Luke 2 1-14 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
After a gap of hundreds of years without the Glory of God, He came back to all men to proclaim the birth of our Saviour. This time the first people to see Him were just shepherds; not Kings and Queens in royal palaces – to all mankind!
Points to Ponder:
I wish you a very Happy Christmas!
And a very Merry New Year!