September 15: Leviticus 2 11-13
Key Verse: Leviticus 2 13
Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
Devotion:
One of the simplest things on earth, salt. Ever so easy to just forget about it, yet how essential it is to so many things. If we are going to use salt to keep the roads clear of ice, we have to spread dirt and salt mixed together before the ice comes; but the dirt that is spread has to have enough salt content otherwise it will not work. If we are going to use it as a flavouring, we have to make sure we have a salt that is clean so that we can eat it. But if we were to sprinkle something that looked like salt on our food but did not taste like it, we may as well put anything on – we would have lost the point of the salt.
Amazingly, Jesus describes us as the salt of the earth (see Matthew 5 13-16) We, Christians, are that important part, to be used in so many ways – but to be used in the right way, we have to consist of the right ingredients.
Jesus also describes us as the light of the world. If we want to light up a room enough to see things at night, then we place the light in a place where it will do the most good. If we want to shed light over something, it is no good hiding that light behind something!
Back in the beginning when various offering were to be made, salt had to be added to the grain offerings; firstly to stop the grain from going off and secondly for taste. What use is an offering if the “use by” date has expired or runs out before it can be used? God wants us to offer ourselves in a long-term role and not just for things we want to do. God wants us to have a good shelf-life, to be useful for longer and bear more fruit. He wants us to be good for many things and not just for decoration. Step up and use your salt!
Points to Ponder:
How much stuff gets thrown out in your household?
Are you listening to God to be as efficient as possible?
September 14: Matthew 16 1-4
Key Verse: Matthew 16 4
“A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
Devotion:
So often we rely on sayings and on folk law to rule our lives. Whilst there is scientific truth behind the reasoning for red sky in the morning and night and the weather the following day, we should not rely on that 100%. Yet we do choose to do exactly that much of the time. We have come to accept many such things in our lives and the say-so of others. They have passed them down from generation to generation. Because it has been done this way, we assume that there is truth in it otherwise they would not have told us so.
We choose to believe scientists when they tell us of the safety of new medicines even though they have not been around long enough to test for long term effects. Most of the time they are correct and so we learn to depend on them. Weather prediction centres tell us of the weather which is coming up. We love to remind ourselves of how bad they are, but they do get it right most of the time; so we depend on them. But in each case, we may well choose to believe someone different to our neighbour because we may think we have found error in the others. Each of us choose what we are going to believe because it makes us feel better about what they are predicting.
But what of the truth? What of the proven truth? What of the predictions which have been proven 100%? The bible records so many predictions from the beginning of time and how they have come to pass. It also lists other predictions which are yet to happen. So far it has a 100% track record... and yet, because people do not like what they hear in it, they do not want to believe it! Why should we believe in something which is a warning that will spoil the way we live? How about “because it is the truth”?
Points to Ponder:
How many times do you have to get warned before you believe something?
How many times does God have to warn us before we believe?
September 13: Genesis 32 1-8
Key Verse: Genesis 32 7
In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.
Devotion:
How many times have you done something rash because you were stressed out! How many times have you got to the point where you cannot possibly take any more and you go and do something stupid – or maybe it was the first time you were up against it and you did something stupid anyway! When we get stressed up about anything, our logic tends to fly out of the window and we are no longer fully in control of ourselves.
When we get worried about things, we don't tend to think like we would normally. Most times we begin to think the worst of every situation and can only see the bad ways out; giving in and accepting what we think is the lessor of the bad ways! But if we were to be able to think straight, we probably would see the best way out of our situation and to be able to move forward in that manner. But because of our stressful situation, we have lost sight in that which is good.
When Jacob was coming back to face his brother Esau, he was really worried that Esau would be upset with him. So much so, in fact, when he heard 400 men were coming to greet him, he assumed it would be an army coming against him. He got so worried with this, he sent drove after drove of presents to try and appease Esau. But his first act was to split the people into two groups just so maybe one group may survive. What he had lost sight of was the good.
He had lost sight of the fact God had told him to return and that alone should have been all he had to worry about. When God does get us to do something, it should be good enough for us to simply obey. We should trust Him totally in what He has asked us to do. If God is behind it, what could possibly go wrong – everything when we get hold of it! We are the ones messing things up because of our stress and worry when we should be leaving it up to God!
Points to Ponder:
What stresses you out most in life?
Have you tried giving that to God?
September 12: Matthew 26 51-56
Key Verse: Matthew 26 56
But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Devotion:
What are you made of? I don't mean physically, but spiritually. We all like to think when push comes to shove that we would take a step forward and defend a person in need, but when it comes to the crunch we fail oh so many times. The disciples were the closest people to Jesus, and yet they too effectively left Him for dead at this time – they ran for their lives.
Simon Peter thought he was doing the right thing in the beginning by stepping forward with his sword and cutting off the ear of Malchus (either a bad head shot or a very good ear one). But Jesus rebuked him for doing this and told him he had to let God have His way. After that, all the disciples left Jesus to be lead away to Caiaphas the high priest.
At this stage we may start to think this was one big conspiracy against Christ. But that is another reaction we often have when things do not go the way we expect them to. We look for excuses to cover things up which we cannot explain. Sometimes we don't want to look too deep in case we find something we don't like; any excuse is a much easier way out.
But what we have to remember here is that God does not need us! Yes, He loves us and He wants us to be with Him. But He does not need us – in fact He probably needs us like He needs a hole in the head! We are the sinners, we are the ones bringing the corruption into our lives. Why would He need that? The answer is simple. He loves us so much that He is willing to forgive us of everything we do wrong. He wants us to come to Him. Jesus allowed Himself to be caught and taken away so He could show us His love for us all – even when we turn our backs on Him, He still wants us to come back!
Points to Ponder:
So how strong do you think you are?
How weak does God think you are?
September 11: Matthew 26 6-13
Key Verse: Matthew 26 13
Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Devotion:
Did you know that your friends and neighbours are going to talk about you? No matter where we are in life, no matter how high or low we are in the social standing in our society, people are always going to talk about us. What they have to say about us is going to be in some way based on the way we act and the things we do and say!
The more that we act up, the more people will be able to talk about us... Sometimes we are thrust into the public face through no fault of our own and from then on we have to be extra vigilant to make sure we keep squeaky clean! If we go up before the public to take on some public or official office, then we have to be able to show that we are worthy of that office. If we want to get anywhere, we have to be sure to do what is right – or at least that is what we all think about.
We all have the compulsion that we have to do the right thing before we can get anywhere. We all assume we have to be able to live a good life so we can reap the rewards therein. We try to work hard so we can have a comfortable retirement. Whilst there is nothing wrong in any of these things, we miss the real reason behind our lives and the real goal in our lives.
We are the ones who have been created by our truly awesome God. We are the ones given the chance to make decisions about what our lives are for. We are given the choice as to whether we want to follow the world or follow Christ. We are given every opportunity to make our choice with the truth being part of our everyday life – yet we still choose things based on what people are going to say or think about us rather than the truth. Make a difference and stand up for Jesus!
Points to Ponder:
What do you think people think about you?
What do you know that God thinks about you?