December 24: Proverbs 27 21
Key Verse: Proverbs 27 21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
Devotion:
One of the surest ways of finding out what a person is really like is to give them raises for something they have done. That person could do anything from accepting the praise with an eagerness which can only show pride and conceit to rejecting the praise in its totality; neither end of the scale would we really appreciate...
If we wanted to get the most out of fine metals such as gold and silver, we would have to refine them. To do so, one places them in absolute heat (depending on the metal being refined) so the impurities get burned off, leaving the true metal behind. Giving someone a whole lot of praise would have the same effect on them. All of the pretences they hold up will almost certainly get dropped. If that person were to accept the praise and make themselves proud, conceited, boastful, even scornful of others, then that person is taking the praise straight to their head thinking they are the ones who deserve all of the praise. Praise should not be sucked up within yourself but passed on to those who actually deserve it. We may have been the ones who have had to do the hard work, we may even have had to fork up the money, but where has that all come from in the beginning – who has made it all possible to start with?
God is the one who deserves the praise for the things He allows us to get involved in and to do. God alone is the Designer. God alone is the Creator. How can we really take the honours when we know He is the one who has made it all possible?
If we get praised for doing things, then we have to accept the praise in the right light. Not only has God allowed us to do what we have done, but it should be a guide to us to show us what we have done right. That praise should encourage us to continue to do that which is right. It should encourage us to show more respect to those praising us. It should encourage us to stay clear of things which may bring us down. Praise should guide us in the direction of the truth. If we are able to endure good and evil, able to endure both good praise and rejection, and still come out the other side the same (or better), then we have succeeded in showing that we are true.
Points to Ponder:
How does praise affect you?
How much do you pass on to Christ?
December 23: Job 13 1-5
Key Verse: Job 13 5
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.
Devotion:
Have you ever got to the point where you just want the people around you to stop speaking? Maybe they were just annoying you with their constant jabbering, or maybe they were talking so much junk they were confusing you... Whatever the case, there are times when you just what to stop the others from speaking to get some peace within your head.
Job had a few people around trying to give him advice about what they thought he had done wrong to have all the problems that had happened to him come to pass. Just like that, we have probably had people gather around us to tell us of the things they think you have done wrong to get into trouble. The problem is, they cannot know exactly what you have done and they certainly are not mind readers – so how can they be blaming you for things?
We often jump in and help out with the blaming when things go wrong for those around us, but we certainly do not like it when people gather around us and dish out the dirt... or at least that is how we see it... but when we are helping others, we think of it as help... We, each one of us, have to be careful with what we do and say to those around us because they may not agree with what we say. Whilst there is nothing wrong with telling the truth, surmising about what is the truth can only get you into trouble!
We could all look at a few high-profile people to see just how badly things can go wrong. Take a few politicians who have thought they are doing the right things and have brought down countries. Take a few scientists who think they do the right thing and make horrible and fatal mistakes... Whilst some of those are going to be genuine mistakes, there will be those times when they have done what they thought was right! We need to do what we know is right – God's Word give us those instructions!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get angry with people who boss you around?
How often do you think you know better than God (be honest)?
December 22: Luke 4 14-21
Key Verse: Luke 4 21
He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Devotion:
Can you imagine being in a synagogue and listening to Christ preaching? I'm pretty sure most people did not know exactly who was speaking to them in the beginning, but can you imagine being able to go back in time and sit and listen to Him preach! Well, we don't have to travel back in time to hear His words because they have been written down for us to read. Yes, I know, reading about it and being there are not quite the same, but we do have His Word – how special is that!
It is little wonder the bible has sold more copies than any other book in history. When Christ promised His Word would not go unheard, that exactly what He was saying... His word would reach every nation before His return. There are many people out there who are yet to hear about God. There are many people out there who are yet to see His Word, and yet we take it as if it were another book on the shelf! How do you treat your bible? How often does it get taken off the shelf to be read?
The more our society progresses towards a multi-everything society, the more we are losing sight of Christ at Christmas time. The more we lose sight of Him, the more we get taken away by the temptations that surround us. The more we get lead away from His Word, the less we are likely to exercise spiritually. The less we exercise, the less we do and we get caught up in a downward spiral which leads to all manner of things happening in our lives... Would you be brave enough to stand up and tell Christ what you have been up to the last year – If we want to face Him face to face, then we had better make sure we are on the right tracks and that we will recognise Him!
Points to Ponder:
How would you recognise someone you have not yet met?
What do you think Christ's first impression of you would be?
December 21: Matthew 11 1-6
Key Verse: Matthew 11 6
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.
Devotion:
No sooner had Christ been giving instructions to His disciples when He would go out to all people and teach them too. His work was a labour of love, something He never tired of doing because He knew it was sorely needed by each and every one of us. He knew what had to be done, and He knew that is what was required so we would get to know just how much we need a Saviour.
We all have our doubts at times. Now whether John had his doubts at this stage or whether he simply wanted his disciples to be shown Christ's teachings in person is not up for discussion as we do not have enough details here. What is shown here is that even the most ardent workers have to be shown or told things at times to strengthen their beliefs. While Christ was here on earth it was easy for many to see His miracles first hand. Now we are living in our time of faith, we need to listen ever more closely to find out what is happening all around us. We don't have Him walking amongst us performing the miracles in person, but we do have His Word describing all manner of things that have happened.
We need to exercise our faith in order to make it stronger. God is going to allow things into our lives which will do exactly that. What we do when we are faced with those 'exercises' is up to us. We can ignore them and allow our faith to become overweight and unfit, or we can work with them to strengthen ourselves. John knew his disciples needed strengthening and this is why he would continue teaching them. Christ knew the ordinary people needed teaching and that is why He did teach them. Without teaching we can easily loose track on what we should be doing and get carried away by those around us who are doing all manner of things; things which are certainly going to be offending God! It's amazing how quickly we will pick up on those things given a few minutes.
Points to Ponder:
Do you think you are looking after yourself physically?
How are you looking after yourself spiritually?
December 20: Luke 12 54-59
Key Verse: Luke 12 56
Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
Devotion:
There are many observations which we learn about, things that tell of something which is coming or about to happen. Here in the UK we know when the wind blows from the North it is going to be very cold; simple geography tells us we are close enough to Iceland for the air to be cold! We can't see the rain coming as easily as you can in Africa because the country is so small in comparison. It’s not all about the weather though; we also learn to understand what signs to look out for to tell whether our parents are going to be mad at us. But, far too often, people disregard the most important warning sign of all – that Christ is going to be returning!
Each year as we get closer to Christmas day, we should not only remember all that has happened in the past, but all the things which have been foretold to happen in the future. We have it all written down in prophesies in our bibles, and yet despite the bible being the best-selling book in the world, it still goes untold and ignored. We have all the warning signs available, and yet we prefer to ignore them and focus on the feel-good parts – God's love and mercy. We cannot afford to miss out on the truth!
If you know you have sinned and think you know God is not going to forgive you, then you need to go to the one who can stand up for you. We don't just get thrown into prison, we have to face the person or state against which we have done wrong. If they deem it necessary that we should go to prison, then we do. If we can convince them we are truly sorry and we will change our ways, there is a chance we will be able to avoid prison. The difference with Christ is that He knows what is in our hearts, so He knows if we are truly sorry. He has also promised us if we do say sorry for the things we have done wrong, He will forgive us and set us free. It's not a “maybe”, it's a fact!
Don't leave it until it is too late....
Points to Ponder:
Do you like it when someone forgives you?
Have you asked Christ to forgive you for all you have done against Him?