July 27: Luke 24 44-51
Key Verse: Luke 24 47
and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Devotion:
Christ was quite clear about just what we should be doing to make sure we do have our sins forgiven. He personally told the disciples He needed to die on the cross for our sins. He told them everything had happened the way that it had because it was what was already prophesied and written in the scriptures which they had not yet realised. He also reminded them about their duties to go out and preach in His name to make sure we do realise it is only through Christ that our sins are forgiven – because He was our sacrifice!
Christ lead the disciples back out to Bethany where the agony all started because He wanted to make sure the disciples would have personal knowledge of what was about to happen. This was the point where He would leave mankind for a while and ascend into heaven to carry out what He had already told them. Nobody had seen Him ascend from the tomb. How could they be sure that He had actually ascended? With this personal eye witness account, how could anyone not believe...
We read about Christ throughout all of the scriptures. We read about His coming in the old testament, though nobody yet understood what was going to happen. We read about how the prophets foretold of His birth and sacrifice, yet people did not know what to expect. Then we read about His birth and life and people began to see what they could expect. Yet when He went to the cross, many lost hope – because they had not understood the scriptures. Christ has not only given His life for us, but He made sure that enough was done so that we could be in no doubt about what had happened. All we have to do is to read and believe His Word and the rest will come through His teaching.
Points to Ponder:
How often do you only believe things you see?
Do you expect others to believe you after you have seen something?
July 26: Acts 13 38-41
Key Verse: Acts 13 39
Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Devotion:
Imagine the amount of sacrificing that would have to go on nowadays in order to get rid of our sins if Christ had not yet come to do that! Imagine the pressure on the priests who would have to take those sacrifices to God in the hopes He would still forgive us. The dread that each time they take in the sacrifice it may be the day God turns around and says the sins far outweigh the sacrifice! But we have Jesus Christ who is God's only son. No other sacrifice could ever top His and certainly no sin would ever cover the sacrifice He showed for each of us!
We need to make sure we do realise just how important His sacrifice was and still is. We have to remember Jesus is the Son of God and He did that for us, We have to remember it was purely to cover our sins, once and for all. That means there is nothing else we have to do to have our sins forgiven other than truly believe He did come to earth as man and give His life for us. No matter how closely we follow the law as laid down by Moses, no matter how much we try to offer our own sacrifices – none of them will ever be equal to His single sacrifice. So, all we need do is to believe on Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive our sins because He took on the price for all of our sins.
Those who choose not to believe that Jesus died for them will face a certain end. There will be many. They are told over and over again of the sacrifice Jesus completed on the cross, but they simply refuse to believe He did it for them. Of if they say they believe, they do not see how He could have done it in their hearts – hence they don't truly believe. Jesus Christ is our Salvation! We can do so much more with Christ in our lives and He continues to enable us to do wonders to show the world He is real; look, learn, believe, enjoy!
Points to Ponder:
Do you ever worry that saying sorry will just not cut it one day?
Christ wants us to believe and be alive!
July 25: Isaiah 28 14-16
Key Verse: Isaiah 28 16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
Devotion:
If we think we are the ones who have cornered the 'market' on scorners, then we have not read God's Word. All throughout history we can see evidence of men who have scorned the word of God, men who have twisted the truth to their own needs and deeds. We don't have to look too far to see how men, even those in Judah, had made packs with death in the belief that by hiding behind their lies, death would bring them freedom in some way.
God has made sure nobody will ever be able to hide behind lies because He has already sent His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, to die for our sins. That means we have absolutely no excuse by which we can say we did not know He meant it for us and not just other sinners. He died for you. He died for me. Every one of us lives under that judgement. Every one of us needs to wake up and realise we cannot live behind our lies or anyone else’s lies – we have to wake up to the truth and face up to what Jesus did for us on the cross.
It is only by waking up to this truth and believing it that we will be able to be set free from the judgement. Once we know Jesus, we have no more rush to die, we have no more rush to do anything other than spread the gospel because we are sure we have eternal life as soon as we end this physical life. But the longer we can stay alive, the longer we have to allow more people to see the truth. The longer we can share the awesomeness of what Christ did for each of us. So, if anyone tells you they will get to heaven through dying because of their own deeds, be wary of what lies they are hiding behind...
Points to Ponder:
Do you like hiding behind lies in your family life?
Why do we then try to hide behind lies in our spiritual life?
July 24: 2 Peter 3 3-7
Key Verse: 2 Peter 3 3
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Devotion:
One thing we will always face are people who want everything NOW! They don't want to wait for things and they certainly will not wait for anyone who asks them to be patient. People like this live hour by hour and block out anything which seems to take longer than their current span of thinking. So, when we as Christians talk about the unknown time of the return of Christ, they scoff at the idea that anything like this could happen because it has not yet happened... When someone gives them an idea they can follow which is more akin to their timespan, they follow that instead.
Satan is the master of deception and he will use anything to try and deceive us so our faith may falter. He wants to be able to trap each one of us into the belief that because something has not yet happened it will not happen. I can only imagine the lies he will be spreading when Christ takes us home. I can only begin to imagine how he will give everyone some miracle or happening which will persuade them to believe he alone is the Messiah and that the disappearance of all Christians was some other hoax!
If we are so easily persuaded by scientists who give us theories which seem to be plausible, then how easily will we be persuaded by someone who can make things happen to “prove” what he is talking about. We hide things in our minds because we want to believe or because we don't want to believe in things. We make up our own worlds around us instead of relying on the truth that is in one book – God's Word. If we take time to learn what God has already laid down in His Word, we will see warnings like this about what is going to happen and what is already happening. God knows it is all happening, why can't we see it? Because we don't want to!
Points to Ponder:
Are you willing to believe what your friends tell you?
Are you willing to believe what God tells you through the bible?
July 23: Proverbs 24 23-26
Key Verse: Proverbs 24 24
Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
Devotion:
Just as we have to be able to take advice and to take instructions to carry out our duties, those in charge need to be able to give the right advice and instructions too. Just as we have to accept the judgement from judges and magistrates, they are the ones that have to make sure their judgements are indeed just and right. We need to take heed from instructions like these to make sure when we get into a position of power that we instruct others as justly, wisely and righteously as we can. If we are willing to take instruction from God, then we will be more able to do those things.
When issuing instructions, we have to weigh up the consequences with the instructions we are going to give out. If we can see that the instructions may lead to terrible things, then we clearly cannot progress with those instructions! What we always need to keep in mind is that instructions don't always lead to physical mishaps, but also spiritual and mental mishaps. If we issue an instruction which is going to take anyone away from God, then we are working against God! People will find out what we have done and will point out those mistakes to all around – we will have to face up to that!
Likewise, if we are going to support the wicked people, then don't expect anyone to actually be encouraged by what we do. We must not be expectant of anything other than the same ill feelings which those evil people had from others. We will be thrown into the same bucket. If we are able to stand up against them, or show others we are willing to stand up against them – then we will get the support and admiration we seek. As long as we are willing to listen to God for those instructions, we will be heading in the right direction – who better to get praise from than God!
Points to Ponder:
Do you always do things in order to get praise?
When was the last time you did anything for God without expecting praise?