May 23: Acts 2:1-4
Key Verse: Acts 2:3
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Devotion:
I wonder what it was like to be there on this first day of Pentecost? I know we celebrate this day every year, thinking back to what happened nearly 2000 years ago, but what was it like for the people there on this first day? We can look back and put two and two together because we know Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come to the disciples; but it was all a bit alien to them then!
I have been in places where we hear the wind blowing whilst we prayed, and it always made me think of these verses. Yet in the Old Testament we read how the Spirit may not appear when the wind blows hard, during earthquakes or other visible prompts – sometimes God is whispering to us in the quietest of voices which are hard to hear. It is up to us to listen for the right thing!
No matter how the Spirit makes themselves known to us, we will know, and we will see the results! It may not be the earth-rumbling shakes of an earthquake, but the results will be as visible to us as the results of an earthquake; we may not realise it until after the event, but we will know.
I pray this day we each get to know and feel the presence of God in a very special way just as the disciples had a very special demonstration of the Spirit indwelling them on this day so long ago. God wants us to know Him from the inside out, not just as someone we have to think about and wonder whether He is there. God wants us to know His presence and know He is with us every step of every day. But it has to start by us waiting on Him...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you wait on God?
Will you wait expecting Him to show you something special today?
May 22: John 18:1-11
Key Verse: John 18:11
Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’
Devotion:
When was the last time you compared two Gospels for a certain point in time? John wrote in his own style and recorded the events which made a bigger impact on him than others – there was only a certain amount of detail each disciple could record! John’s focus here was not on the garden where Jesus took the disciples, nor on how Judas was going to betray Jesus to the officials.
Instead, John focuses on the interaction between the soldiers and Jesus. This was a small crowd of people sent to bring Jesus back to the authorities so He would stand trial for things which were not true, a small crowd which was determined to carry out what they were being paid for. They were after the one who was called Jesus of Nazareth; so they asked His name. Jesus replies saying He is this Jesus they are looking for, not once but twice – to be sure!
When Simon Peter drew his sword and tried to fight back, Jesus stopped him after he had managed to cut off Malchus’ right ear! Jesus berated him saying this was the will of God. All what was about to happen, all that was happening was the will of God. Not a very pleasant thing to go through, but the only way which would make it possible for God to demonstrate His total love for us!
Jesus was going to obey God, no matter what! This is what we need to take away from this story – not the name of the garden, where it is, who was there, what Judas did, what Peter did... just the simple fact Jesus was going to obey God no matter the cost! This is not a cost Jesus is saying we all have to bear – He bore it for our sakes and did it once and for all!
Points to Ponder:
What is God asking you to do?
Will you obey Him?
May 21: John 17:20-26
Key Verse: John 17:24
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Devotion:
Read through these verses before you read my words. Read them carefully and mindfully.
This is a prayer Jesus prayed to God the Father for us! This prayer is for all of us who are believers in Christ to be one body, one church, now and forever! This is not just a prayer for us to be friends or to love our neighbours, but to be as one body, one being... just the same as Christ and the Holy Spirit and God the Father are one God! This is the type of closeness Christ wants with us – not just friends!
When we sing that chorus “what a friend we have in Jesus” it is not worthy of the prayer Jesus prays here. Jesus wants to be much closer than friends with us. Jesus wants us to be much closer to God than just believers who will get to be in heaven one day. Jesus wants us to be one with Him just as He is one with God the Father. This means Jesus wants us to be one with the Father!
Jesus made sure we got to feel the real love by giving us the Holy Spirit, that He could dwell in us and love us in a way we could not explain in words. Jesus wants us to experience the love He shares with the Father. Jesus wants us to know this love He has for us! Just as Jesus has loved us from the beginning of time, so too is this love He wants us to experience with Him and God the Father.
We may find it difficult to figure out the Trinity – how God can be three parts but one – but this is the same one-ness God wants for us!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like having the Holy Spirit with you?
Will you make room for God in three persons in your heart?
May 20: Psalm 117:1-2
Key Verse: Psalm 117:1
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
Devotion:
If there was one thing I could wish for and see it come true, it would be for all nations around the world to come together and praise the Lord! If we were able to allow people in every country to freely come to God and worship, the world would be a much better place! Instead, we continue to have to endure countries who say they accept the freedom to worship but impose such restrictions to make life impossible for those who want to worship.
God sent Christ to this world to make the choice to believe a reality and open to all people, starting with His chosen people. If we look at modern society around the world, we may be pushed to believe the countries who claim to be followers of God do allow people the choice of following God! We see politics taking over religious places and organisations making them an extension to the political world instead of places where people can freely come to worship God!
God showed us His amazing love by creating a world for us to live on. He continued to show His love by maintaining this place in a hostile universe. He continued to show His love when people rejected Him and chose worldly temptations instead! He continues to show us His love despite the world doing some horrible things! Why? Because He loves us!
Because of His love, He continue to be faithful and just no matter what goes on in the world around us. We have the choice to believe or not to believe. In the Western world this choice is open and on the table. My fear is for the people who want to find God in their countries where they would be persecuted for doing anything the governments cannot control – they cannot and never will control God! Choose God, choose freedom and pray for those who are stuck behind enemy lines!
Points to Ponder:
What one thing would you prayer for right now?
Undecided? Will you join me in prayer for the world-wide freedom to worship?