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August 29: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Key Verse: Song of Solomon 2:11
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Devotion:
This is one of those romantic and beautiful books in the bible, one which uses some very poetic language to describe the love between two people. When we fall in love, everything changes and we start to see life and most things around us in a very different light; like someone switched on the mood lights instead of the sunshine!
What struck me about these verses is this different way of seeing things around you – much the same as the different way I started to see the world when I got to know Christ. No longer do you look for all the bad things, all the pain and strife; instead you look for the good things and what pleases you. We have a different outlook on life – a positive spin on things. If you think you are in love and you don't get to see the world in a different light, then question whether it is simply infatuation!
The natural world around us can be very daunting but also very beautiful. We can look for all the traps or we can marvel at the amazing things God has done. Just the same, we can look for all the good things in the people around us, or we can focus on the bad and shifty things; our outlook will be tainted by the way we start looking at things... Much like only reading bad reviews of a book before you read it – your outlook will be tainted.
So when you look at the people around you today, consider all the good things as well as the bad things. When we have a real view of the world around us we will be able to move forward with much more confidence than before. If we only focus on the bad we will hide from many aspects of life. If we only focus on the good we will be horrified when we find out the truth. God wants us to go through our lives knowing the truth – which included the fantastic promised He has made to us!
Points to Ponder:
What outlook do you have for today?
Will you try to find 5 good things and 5 bad things to weight things up today?
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August 28: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:10
And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
Devotion:
I think the most important thing Jesus tried to instil on everyone He met was to love one another. He did this through His actions and through His words; everything He did promoted the love He had for others. The disciples continued to reflect on this as they went about their mission of reaching out to the rest of Israel and Paul did this with his helpers by reaching out to everyone around the Mediterranean Sea!
Paul's letters to the people in Thessalonica were as much an encouragement as they were teachings and warnings. He changed his own life and went out to demonstrate the love Christ had for him toward others. He took each area as different people – we are not all the same and we live differently from others. But this does not mean we should leave behind the love for each other – this must be the central thing which binds us all together, just as it binds us to God through Christ.
Jesus taught the people to be diligent in all they did, to be honest and to uphold these things in the face of all things which happened around them. God wants us to live by these same rules, not just the Ten Commandments, but every word which He taught us, every word which is written down for us in our bibles!
The root message was always to love God first and foremost, then to love each other as much as God loves us. The more we get to learn about how much God has done, is doing and has promised to do for us, the more we should realise these are the same values we need to hold dear to our hearts. Allow people to see you are different, not because you are some sort of weirdo, but because you know God on a very personal level.
Points to Ponder:
How often do you think about God's rules?
Will you try to allow others to see you are different, in a good way?
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August 27: Psalm 139:7-12
Key Verse: Psalm 139:8
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Devotion:
One of the things many of us forget about, or just don't think enough about, is how God is always near to us in the form of the Holy Spirit. The psalmist here describes how God is in Heaven away from all sin, but also in the deepest depth we sink to in our lives where people embrace sin. It does not mean He supports our sin, far from it! But it does mean God knows exactly what we are going through.
If we feel like we have sunk to the deepest depth, all we need do is to ask Him for guidance and help. He is waiting patiently for that call and has been for all of our lives. He continues to wait for every one of us even though He knows some of us are not going to come back to Him...
What love that is! He reaches out to us every day with a helping hand and guiding words. If we choose to ignore the hand He reaches out to us with – then we don't receive the help. If we don't follow His guiding words, then we don't receive the help. If we don't ask for the help, how can we expect Him to give us the help!
No matter how dark we think it is, God is the light and will fill our lives with His light if we were to ask. He continues to wait so He can fill our lives with His light – just as He promised us in the beginning. No darkness is too dark when you switch a light on... so why not make that light the light of Jesus in your life!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get down when the lights fade?
What are you waiting for – turn on your Christ light!
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August 26: Mark 7:24-30
Key Verse: Mark 7:28
“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Devotion:
Jesus may have had a very busy mission and being continually in demand must have added to His stress and fatigue all the time; but He still stopped and listened to people in need. When was the last time someone asked something of you just when you wanted to have a bit of a rest? This reminds me of the parable where Jesus talked about a friend knocking on the door very late at night and asking for bread... Would you get up out of bed and go to them to help?
When we hear of a friend in need, we often go out of our way to help them – but what happens when a stranger asks for you help? Do you stay tucked up in bed and ignore the plea for help, or do you get up and go to see how you can help or even if you can help?
This woman came to meet Jesus and ask for help because she was at her wits end; her daughter was possessed by a demon (though she called it an impure spirit) and Jesus was not going to let that go by without helping. This woman's faith was on display because she came to beg Jesus to help – this was the only thing she thought left which could help!
Often we allow the people around us to get to the bottom of the barrel (so to speak) before we stop and offer to help. Sometimes we need to stop and offer to help before they get so desperate. Listening to God and following the Holy Spirit can help us to identify people who are in need – people God knows need the help and people who are willing to place their own faith in Christ.
Points to Ponder:
Do you ignore pleas for help until it's too late?
Will you stop and look around to see if someone needs your help?
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August 25: Proverbs 18:10-14
Key Verse: Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Devotion:
The people of this world who are full of false pride soon meet up with the reality of the world and their pride is dashed to pieces. The rich and wealthy look to their money as their safe haven, but if that should falter in any way they feel like their world is collapsing in on them; much the same as the people full of their own pride. But we have a safe haven in Christ which cannot be broken down and cannot be removed by anything from this world.
If a proud person has anything happen which causes them to doubt themselves, their world collapses in on itself. If the rich person has cause to doubt their financial stability, they feel like things are going to collapse. If we, as Christians, doubt our faith, we too feel like the faith we have is crashing down around us... But therein is the difference, the pride of the proud is dashed and cracked; the finances of the rich melt away, but Christ remains strong and a firm foundation we can go back to when we realise it is just our faith and nothing more which is at fault!
We need to remember God is above all else and will never be brought down by any of His creation; and since He created us all, we cannot bring Him down. What do can do and seem to do far too often is bring down the faith of the people around us by doing stupid things and doubting ourselves. We have no reason to doubt God!
When we get sick, we often can get through it and come out the other side feeling much better and even stronger. But when our faith is tested, when our spirits are broken, we find it very difficult to come back without a lot of help. Christ is here waiting to help us no matter what we have gone through!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you feel spiritually down?
How long does it take you to be encouraged by God's Word again?
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August 24: Luke 22:24-30
Key Verse: Luke 22:27
For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Devotion:
Just when the disciples were getting the hang of Jesus being Lord of Lords, He says something like this to them while eating the last supper they would have together. This was Jesus’ way of showing them how to be humble with others – no matter how much we think of ourselves, we should also be lifting up others to positions they cannot think of!
Jesus was lifting up the disciples to be like the judges of old, the prophets and leaders before Israel chose a king. These men who had been little else than fishermen and the like were now being told they have a place at the table of the King of Kings, one where He is willing to serve them!
I don’t know if you have had a job of serving others, but it can be seen as rewarding even though you are doing all the hard work. At boarding school, some of us would be chosen to serve some of the seniors at special meals. It was not a task to take lightly, but one we would look forward to because it was something different and we may get noticed if we did the task well.
Jesus was trying to show the disciples they had to go forward with the right attitude. Not as a slave working for nothing, but a person trying to show others they are worth something and show them a new hope. As Christians we should be willing to be servants who take the word of God out to others, showing them they have hope and a new reason to live! Christ has shown us the way – we should do what we can to emulate Him.
Points to Ponder:
Are you willing to serve?
Will you serve to the best of your ability?
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August 23: Psalm 149:1-9
Key Verse: Psalm 149:6
May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands
Devotion:
When we do put on the whole armour of God, we are able to stand firm in our faith because we see the evidence of all Christ has done and continues to do in our lives. Knowing this we surely must praise Him for everything and in everything.
I continue to be amazed at how much God does in my life. It’s not because I keep on having to beg Him for things but more because He continues to show His love for me by doing things in my life before I have to ask for them. We can read through our bibles and see how much of this happens to people who place their faith and trust in Him. We can see how many people are blessed because they believe the scriptures and they try to apply them into their own lives.
God loves us all, but when we do things according to His will, He has a special place in His heart for us. When we love and obey Him, He is faithful and just to answer our prayers. When we keep Him close to us, we are able to see how much He does do in our lives. This is not just a coincidence – this is the love of God in action.
The psalmist here recognises how important it is to praise the Lord for everything He does. Not just the miracles which happen, but every little facet of our lives which show us how He loves us. Stop and look around you. Stop and recognise just how much God is doing in your life right now. We need to examine our lives a bit more closely to find out just how awesome our God really is – and then praise Him!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you praise God?
How often do you stop to look at everything praiseworthy in your life?
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August 22: Ephesians 6:10-20
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Devotion:
Whenever I read this passage I think of David before he was chosen to be king of Israel. His main task at the time was to look after his father’s sheep, something the rest of his brothers probably had great delight in handing down to him. But when the brothers were in the army and facing the Philistines, the champion of the Philistines was taunting them every day to come and face him.
David had no problem going forward to tell the king at that time, Saul, he would be willing to go and face the champion. This would have caused a few people to laugh because David was small in stature compared to his brothers in the army. Indeed, when Saul gave his armour for David to wear in his facing of Goliath, it was far too big for him and he ended up not wearing it.
Instead, David was going to rely on the ultimate armour – God! This passage tells us of the various pieces of armour which David was depending on at the time; all of which centred on God. If we are able to put on each part of this Godly armour too, we will be protected and given strength by God just as David was.
Stand firm in the truth. Uphold righteousness. Be ready to share the gospel. Depend on the protection we have through our faith. Know the salvation we have through Christ. Depend always on the Word of God to explain things we don’t understand. In all of this, depend on the Spirit telling you what to do and always pray for the protection God has promised.
Points to Ponder:
How much armour do you put on every day?
Will you try to put on each piece of God’s armour today?
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August 21: Matthew 23:1-12
Key Verse: Matthew 23:6
they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
Devotion:
How many things you do are so other people will take notice of what you are doing? If we are very honest with this question – most of the things we do are for the response we get from others rather than what we get out of it! The more social media takes grip in our world, the more we are going to demand attention for ourselves rather than doing things for others.
Jesus tried to teach the disciple how they should be thinking of others at all times and to do things for others as much as possible – not because you want to be seen to be good, but because the things you end up doing are for the good of others! Jesus could see how people, even back then, were turning to attention seeking rather than doing good to others. People wanted to get noticed and not necessarily do the right things!
God was very select in what He did. Jesus went out of His way to help others. Yes, some of the things He did were to get noticed or to bring glory to God, but none of it was in a negative way like most social media things are nowadays. We even have professional people whose primary goal is to influence what others should do – not necessarily to do the right thing but to influence others to do things they are getting paid for.
When we hear God’s word, we should be aiming to follow it and to do what God is requesting of us. Sometimes we get told about God’s word by people who are not following their own advice – this is what was happening at this time and Jesus was warning the disciples of this. We should not be seeking fame and fortune at the expense of others!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you show off?
Will you try to listen to and obey God’s word before showing off?
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August 20: Psalm 146:1-5
Key Verse: Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Devotion:
How many times have you promised to do something and then later regretted the promise because you cannot live up to it? How many times have you just brushed it off and kept on going rather than face up to not keeping the promise? If we are honest to each other and ourselves, we could probably list a whole lot of times when this has happened – both ways!
We can look back on the history of the world through the eyes of the people who penned the words of the bible down and we see this has been happening for a long time to many many people! We all fall short of our promises and we all fall short of being able to do what we think we can. But God does not fall short of His promises and certainly does not say anything He cannot do!
We need to think about the words of this psalm and try to keep them in our hearts. We need to try to promise God we will praise Him all the days of our lives. Why should we if we know we will fail? Because if we do not make the promise we will always have an excuse to not praise God. If we make the promise it will stay with us and remind us every time we fall short – that is the time when we can try turn things around and keep the promise as best we can.
God does not need a bunch of robots which keep doing the right things over and over again. God needs people who are willing to try to do the right thing as much as possible. And when we fall short we need to reach out to God and ask for His guidance and strength to get us through. Hopefully this way we will be able to learn how we can achieve daily praise and worship!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you fall short of the commandments?
How often do you ask God to help you through those times?