August 11: Luke 8 1-3
Key Verse: Luke 8 3
Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Devotion:
While Jesus went from town to town telling people of the Kingdom of God there were people who went with Him. This disciples for one; but there were also women who went with them. One of them was a wife to Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household! These women were of various ages and not just going because it seemed like a good idea; rather they followed Christ and the disciples because of their gratitude for what Christ had done for them!
They were willing to go the extra mile to look after the disciples and Jesus because they were in need – they did not go out with a huge bag of money and visit all the local inns and hotels. These men had given up everything to follow Christ. Now these ladies were also giving up a lot to follow Christ and help out because they could. By the sound of it, their husbands were probably all working and supporting them, so they wanted to pass on some of this now.
When we see what Christ has done for us, what He continues to do and how much more there is which He has promised to do – we should have no issue with giving up a little to support the ministers and missionaries who are going out of their ways to teach others about the Kingdom of God. It is not up to us to dictate where they should be going and what they should be doing though. It is God who is calling them and God they should be following – we should be willing to support them in their calling.
Now, Jesus and the disciples were not sucking them dry financially, nor where they dictating what the women should give them or do for them. They were grateful for the support and must have continued to teach them more about God too. Don’t withhold because you don’t like what someone is doing – if they have been called by God and are following Him to do His work, then we should be willing to support them where we can…
Points to Ponder:
Do you give toward any missionaries or ministers?
God continues to support our missionaries and ministers in many ways!
August 10: Mark 15 42-47
Key Verse: Mark 15 46
So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Devotion:
Can you imagine the state of the Jews who believed in Christ. Here He is being hanged like a common criminal, but not just that, it was the day of preparation – the day when everyone was getting ready for the Sabbath. They knew they would have to get Jesus’ body down and bury Him before the night hour, before the Sabbath legally started. Who were the people who were going to give up their Sabbath just to make sure this happened?
The current law was that anyone who touched a dead body or was even in the same tent as a dead body would be impure for seven days. And anything they touched would then be impure as well meaning they would not be able to take part in the feasts and celebrations of the Sabbath; or in other words, they would have to give up this Sabbath in order to make sure Jesus was given a proper Jewish burial.
The rush was on and not a lot of people stepped forward to fulfil the roles. But one person stood out here. Joseph of Arimathaea. He went to Pilate and boldly asked for the body of Jesus – not sheepishly or behind people’s backs, but boldly – showing everyone he cared for Christ! Pilate made sure Jesus was dead before arranging for him to collect the body. Joseph then went out and purchased some fine linen for the burial, again showing people he was caring for Christ. The disciples were not all there at this time and even Peter had denied Jesus before his death… The women were there are the cross, some mentioned by name in the bible, but presumably more who were following Christ and now publicly showing their support for Christ.
Just because this has been done and Christ is back in heaven does not mean we should stop showing others we know Christ and care for Him! Joseph and the women gave us an example to live up to. We need to be more public in our relationship with Christ. We need to allow people to see what we do for Him and with Him. Allowing people to see gives them something to look up to – the love we share with Christ for all He has done for us.
Points to Ponder:
What are you willing to do for friends?
What are you willing to publicly do for Christ?
August 9: Isaiah 53 4-9
Key Verse: Isaiah 53 6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Devotion:
One of the most amazing things which has been prophesied and proven is the one thing people don't want to believe – that Christ did actually die for our sins! Because as soon as we do admit He did die for our sins, we have to admit that we do actually believe He is God and that the bible is true. If we do this then we also have to believe all of the stuff we have done in the past has been a contributing factor to His death on the cross! It is little wonder then people will come up with all sorts of excuses about why it did not happen the way that it did or that it did not happen at all!
Well, we cannot deny that Jesus did not live – it is in historical records. We cannot deny He did not die – that too is in historical records. And yet we would try to bend the truth of how He died just so we can live our lives the way we want to and not have to think about someone else. We like to think we do think of others, because we do buy each other gifts and share things with each other... but we are very selective in just whom we do mix with.
Jesus, on the other hand, was not selective about just whose sins He paid for. He went to the cross to die for all of our sins – for everyone's sins – yes, mine as well. He did this because He truly loves us all. His act was totally unselfish. He opened His heart to everyone. Yet so many reject His open offer in fear they will somehow be trapped into doing something they don't want to or that they will have to give up 'the good life'. The truth is, we fear admitting the truth and would rather like to think we are stronger than we actually are. We would have to admit God is actually in control and not us. We would have to admit we do need to bow down before His ultimate authority. All of our lives we strive to be at the top. We aspire to be kings and queens. In reality all we have to do is admit that we are His children ... and act like it...
Points to Ponder:
When you were small, how well did you listen to your parents?
Do you listen to God as a child?
August 8: Revelation 18 1-8
Key Verse: Revelation 18 4
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “ ‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
Devotion:
Just as we have many examples about what has happened in the past, we have the warnings about what will happen in the future in the book of Revelations. Just as we have seen how wicked man gets and how Christ has to step in and show His wrath in the past, it will happen in the future as well. In other words, God knows what we are like and He knows we will get caught up in the things of this world. Be He still expects us to be able to listen to Him. He still expects us to obey Him. Why, because He has shown us so much love in all that He has done for us and has given us all the rules... He expects us to be able to show a bit of respect at least and follow some rules!
Just the same as the world, not all children are going to be good. Peer pressure and living up to examples laid down by parents means that many children don't have a hope of getting it right! Christ watches us in these circumstances and wants us to take a stand for what is right. He wants us to be able to set an example so others will be able to look up to see His light through us. He wants us to be able to put aside our feelings of pride and go out and help those who need it. He wants us to be able to make a difference in this world so people will know that there is a God!
Without that difference between us and the world, people will always follow the crowd. Without something standing out from the crowd, people just keep doing what everyone else does. The more people see, the more they will be willing to try. The more they try, the further they will be willing to go. The further they go, the more people lay out in front of them to tempt them further. Greed will set up temptation. Temptation will feed on weaknesses. Lack of direction will mean following where temptation leads. It only goes downhill from there...
Points to Ponder:
Do you enjoy doing what all your mates are doing?
Do you ever show your mates what Christ has taught you to do?
August 7: John 15 18-27
Key Verse: John 15 21
They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
Devotion:
Have you ever stopped to try and wonder why people don’t like you? Maybe you do know what you have done wrong to others and can understand why some people would not like you – but even when we are ‘good Christians’ the world is still going to hate us because of the way we are! Why? Simple. Because they do not know God like we do.
The more we act like all the other people around us, the more they will tend to accept us into their fold. It may take some time for people to accept you into their community, but if you live a similar life to theirs they will see you as equal. Christ did not come to the earth to show everyone up as being the King of Kings or Lord of Lords. He came as a servant to serve the people around Him – and yet there was still hatred.
When we come as servants into a community, we come to help the people as we can and as we are guided (hopefully we are listening to God for that guidance.) But when we do things according to God’s wishes, there are going to be many who will take offense. We come in and serve people with open hearts and gain friendships quickly through doing so. But the people in the community who have been trying to gain friends through doing things their own way or through pride and greed will take offense – they have not seen the friendships come and they don’t see why! But we can see because we know love.
Christ came to lift the burdens of sacrifice and terror and to leave hope and mercy and love in their stead. He wants us to share our love and show His mercy to give people hope. When we are focused on nothing else other than ourselves, all we see is how things are going wrong in our own little circle. But when we focus on other people we begin to see the hope and love spread which brings so much more happiness than anything we can do by ourselves. Share God, share Christ and spread Hope and love!
Points to Ponder:
Do you focus on your own needs?
Or do you focus on the needs of God’s children?