September 10: Proverbs 25 17
Key Verse: Proverbs 25 17
Seldom set foot in your neighbour’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.
Devotion:
I bet each one of us can think of a time when we have either been made to feel unwelcome because we stayed a bit long, or someone else has overstayed their welcome in our house. If we want to continue to be on good terms with others, then we should really aim to make sure that we do not overstay our welcome – which can be a hard thing to spot when our hosts are trying their hardest to make us feel welcome!
This does not mean we should stay away from our neighbours! Where would we be without friendship? Being able to talk to people, being able to be with people or just being able to know someone is close by is a great comfort to us. Whilst we know God is there with us, always, we still do crave for human companionship, especially with those who are close to us.
But, as always, neighbours are open to abuse by those who have little or no respect for others. If we wish to make the most of our friendships, we need to adhere to certain civilities: not to be troublesome, not to visit too often, not to stay too long, nor to make it so that you turn up at meal times just in case you can gain some food! Whilst each of these can be mistaken, taking your friendships for granted can only lead to breaking them...
Being open and honest with your neighbours will help to cultivate a trust and companionship that will allow for flexible visits. Being able to know how welcome you are allows you to know your bounds. Being open enough to tell others how welcome they are will allow them to know their limits.
Points to Ponder:
Do you have neighbours that stick around too much?
Aren't you glad Christ has said He wants us to call on Him always?
September 9: Genesis 19 1-3
Key Verse: Genesis 19 3
But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.
Devotion:
Have you ever been to a strange place and wondered what you were going to do or where you were going to go or stay? Going to a foreign country is always difficult, not least because we probably do not speak the same language, but also because of the differences in our surroundings and culture. People from other countries are quite different in the things they do, expect and want. When we go there for the first time, we do not know the customs, how people will react or much else other than what we have heard from others; being there is quite different.
Imagine what it is going to be like for people from other places when they come to visit your end of the world. Imagine how out of place they will feel and how they will have to worry about what they should be doing or where they should be going. Imagine how much you would enjoy someone coming up to you and asking if they could help you if you were in their place. Being as though we now have a global neighbourhood (one where others are only a flight away), being a good neighbour is no longer just seeing how people are next door, but how they are when they are in your country.
We are all able to help people out, not just when we see them in great need, but when we see them in circumstances when we think we would need help if we were in their shoes. Being able to step forward and offer a hand may well be all that is needed for them to enjoy their holiday or to feel welcome. Imagine how welcome people would feel in your church if they were greeted in a friendly way and made to feel at home. Imagine how much you would be doing to encourage them back into God's house and be closer to Him. We can reach people wherever we are and in every circumstance, we can encourage them to see how we want to be more like Christ and show everyone true brotherly love.
Points to Ponder:
Do you discourage some people from being your friends?
When was the last time you insisted on inviting someone to church?
September 8: Psalms 18 1-3
Key Verse: Psalms 18 1
I love you, LORD, my strength.
Devotion:
These first words David spoke in this Psalms really show the content of the rest of it: “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.” What better way to greet someone who looks after you than to say that you love them and you depend on them. How often do you say something like this to the people who you depend on? How often do you remind yourself just how much you rely on God and how many of those times do you personally thank Him?
God is our Rock. He is unchangeable, solid, dependable, firm. God is our fortress. In Him we can hide, gain protection, feel safe, be safe, sleep soundly. God is our deliverer. No matter how tight a place we work ourselves into, He is the one who is able to dig us out! What else can we hope for other than a God who is everything and more? What else can we do other than to depend on Him totally!
We can thank God He is a wonderful, powerful God who lives today. A God who continues to make sure we do have every opportunity to live for Him, in Him and with Him. He continues to watch over us, defend us, build us up and support us. He watches over us as a loving shepherd, caring for everything we do, even when we go against His wishes. He calls out to us to bring us back in line. He comes after us when we refuse to listen. Yet He loves us so much that He continues to allow to our own choices.
I do love singing out these words of this Psalms in a joyful song – indeed many of the words in this Psalms are used in hymns and choruses – and praising God for all that He does in our lives. Why not sing out and praise Him today! Thank Him for everything that He means to you. Thank Him for being your fortress and foundation! He is worthy to be praised! Praise Him!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you listen to music?
How much of your music praises God in a way He would like?
September 7: Revelation 2 8-11
Key Verse: Revelation 2 9
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Devotion:
I know it is always dangerous to take a phrase from God's Word but I would like you to think on the first phrase of verse 9: “I know your works, tribulations and poverty…” If you want to take it in context then read verses 8 through 11, but for now I want you for focus on the four words which follow the phrase above (but you are rich).
So many times in our lives we get despondent because of the things we do not have or the things we desire which are too far out of our reach. We see people around us with so many things and we wish we had half of the things they have... But what we have surpasses all those things around us which we see – if only we would realise just how much God actually means in our lives! We see people who are rich and famous and drool at the cars they drive and the clothes they wear – never mind the mansions... We see people who live on the street and cuddle up in cardboard boxes for warmth... Yet we do not see what is inside each of them. We have an idea by the way they act, but we can never truly see in their hearts.
We may well be in one of those categories, or we may be anywhere in between – others around us are going to have the same difficulty seeing what is in our hearts as we do with them. Unless we are more willing to wear it on the outside. Why shouldn't we? We see the rich and famous wearing all sorts of things on the outside – because they can. We see the poor and needy always searching for things and wearing rags – because they have to. I can guarantee that if we were pushed into a position of great wealth, we would go out and buy all manner of luxury items. If we were pushed into debt we would manage with what we have until we can find something different.
What we have in Christ is so much more than mere riches and yet we continue to hide it in our hearts so that nobody else will see! The richness we have in God is something that we should be proud of. It is a richness that we need others to see so that they can be encouraged to come and find out what we have. It is a wealth that we need others to want.
Points to Ponder:
What would you do with one million pounds?
How much do you show off your riches in Christ?
September 6: Acts 10 34-35
Key Verse: Acts 10 34
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism
Devotion:
What a wonderful thing that Christ is not a respecter of persons... Don't get me wrong, He does have respect for us, what He does not have respect for is who we think we are. We always seem to have these grandiose schemes whereby we elevate ourselves to greater positions than we actually are, or we get so pumped up with the things we find out we can do, we forget about who we actually are. If you want someone to bring you down to earth, ask God... On second thoughts, don't, because you will not like how low He will let you go.
You see, we are just humans. Nothing more, nothing less. We were created by God and we continue to live on this planet exercising the free will which God has given us. He allows us to continue doing things because He loves us. He, like a loving parent, wants us to learn things in ways that we will remember them. He is not going to hide us from the truth, nor hide us from the evil. He will offer protection which we can ask for. He will offer strength which we can ask for. He will offer guidance which we can ask for. But it is our free will as to what we do ask for and what we do accept.
As long as we are willing to fear Him as our one true God, then we will not have much to worry about. To fear God is not to tremble at the sound of His name but to give Him the utmost respect and acknowledge Him as God. When we start doing that, we will be more than willing to get on and do His work. We will be more than willing to listen to His guidance. And He will be more than willing to show you respect for what you are doing as well. So, it does not matter whether we are the best doctor in the world or the lowest street-worker in the smallest backwater, God will respect us for what is inside and not what we physically are. We are His...
Points to Ponder:
What about you do you think God will not like?
Have you tried to be more willing to do things His way?