February 15: John 6:60-66
Key Verse: John 6:66
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Devotion:
This is one of those sections of scripture where you will either wonder how they can even think like this, or you will totally relate to their feelings at the time. Maybe you are like the disciples who stood by Jesus, or maybe you have been like one of the others who walked away from Jesus. I know both sides because I have been there, walked away, but thankfully have found my way back again...
Jesus was not one to hold back the punches – He let the fly when people tried to trip Him up or tried to justify their own ways instead of upholding God’s ways. And when someone in authority throws a punch, many people turn their backs on them and walk away – we see this happening in many parts of the world right now where people are turning their backs on people in authority because they have been upset in some manner by them.
One way of looking at this is to put yourself in their shoes and try to figure out what you would do; not a “I should do this” but rather “what would I have done in those circumstances”
God continues to uphold the truth and sometimes we are faced with hard decisions because we have chosen our own paths of ease rather than standing with the difficult truth. Sometimes we have to make that hard decision which may well upset us or others around us, but we have to make it because we need to stand up with God’s truth rather than our own desires.
Points to Ponder:
Do you find it hard to keep being a Christian?
Will you hold out your hands and allow God to guide you?
February 14: Mark 9:2-8
Key Verse: Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Devotion:
If there was any doubt about what Jesus had done over the last few days before this happened, then the disciples would have their doubts dispelled and instead have their hearts filled with love. Jesus came to serve and to give His life for us because He loves us so! But this must not detract from the glory Jesus is the Son of God!
The disciples were caught between this world and the next in what they were seeing and experiencing. Jesus wanted them to see a glimmer of the next world; He wanted them to see what was in store for them – a new body and a new way of living. They would be able to put aside the hardships they had been through and start to experience just what God has in store for us.
God wanted them to know this was all because of His love for His Son and for us; hence He declared His love for Jesus in front of them. They were not to be left in any doubt about the love God has for all of us by experiencing the expressed love God has for His Son.
God has something rather special for us after we outlive our physical lives on this earth. He has an enduring love and life which we will be very pleased with. This life will not be limited to earth like our physical lives, but will be shared with Jesus and God in Heaven!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think your life is a bit tough at the moment?
Just imagine the peace and love which awaits us in Heaven!
February 13: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us
Devotion:
I wonder how much grief the writer went through so he would write words like these for all to read. I know I have faced so little compared to the hardships the apostles faced, but I have seen a side of people they probably did not know existed before they faced me in their anger.
I find comfort in words like these because I know people hit out at us when they do not understand why we are doing what we do for God. Friends and family change when they see you doing things they have no understanding of; and in ways they don’t understand because they cannot grasp all God means to us or what He can do with and through us.
How can we “count it as joy” when people are turning against us because we are doing something different? Well, when we do something new or different when guided by the Holy Spirit, we will face opposition – after all, nobody likes too much change in their lives! Isaiah promoted the idea Christ was going to come and do something new; and when He did come and do something new, people objected and rose up against Him – even though Jesus knew what He was doing was the right thing to do!
When we face opposition we should not try and fight it alone because the fight we fight is God’s fight and not ours alone; we are working for Him and should be under His command. We are going to continue to face opposition and even dangers in our work for God, but as long as we stay close to Him and rely on Him for love and protection, you will be assured of a great future with Christ!
Points to Ponder:
Do you despair when facing opposition to God’s work?
Will you rely on God for His guidance today?
February 12: Mark 6:7-13
Key Verse: Mark 6:8
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
Devotion:
When Jesus sent disciples out to spread the gospel, it was not in any form a big public affair which was going to make anybody rich, well known or an upstanding public figure. Christ was sending them out to reach the real people in the communities they were walking into.
Sometimes we get afraid of doing something for God because we fear it will not succeed or the public will stand up against you and you will look like a fool... This does not come from God but from the evil one who is trying to trip us up before we can share God’s Word with others. The instructions for the disciples here were to become totally exposed to the public with nothing to fall back on!
Why should God wants us to be totally exposed and without a fallback if He loves us so much? The answer is to help us to understand just how much He is with us. If we never step forward because we are too scared, then all we will live with is the fear. But if we step out and place ourselves wholly in God’s hands, then we will see how much he does look out for us!
God does not want us to fall flat, He wants us to succeed in sharing His Word. But He does not want us to think we are fully capable of doing it all without Him! Far from it. We are nothing without God! With Him we are more than capable to doing amazing things – these disciples found out just how much they could do because they were willing to listen to God and obey Jesus first of all.
Points to Ponder:
Do you make long and complicated plans to make sure things always work?
Will you be willing to simply listen to God and obey?