January 2: John 1:19-28

Key Verse: John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.”’

Devotion:
One of the things we should never be afraid of is telling people who we are – we are believers in Christ who want to be able to share the gospel of Christ wherever we go! When my dad was alive and we were out visiting, if he ever heard someone had any sort of issue in their lives he would always volunteer to pray for them should they wish. Many people said yes, and there began his witness!

We don’t have to be like John the baptist staying out in the desert near the river Jordan, teaching people about baptism. He gave up all of his time to do this because that is what God had asked of him. He did not shy away from it and when faced with Pharisees or other teachers of the law, he freely answered whatever questions they had.

They wanted to try and get him to stop baptising because people were beginning to see a truth the Pharisees could not see. They then wanted to know if he was connected to the Messiah, Elijah or any other prophet. Anything like that and they would try everything to disprove him and what he was saying. Instead he told them the truth, he had come to prepare the way for one who was much more important than him!

When God asks something of us, we should not build it up into anything more than it is. We should open up about the truth and tell it to people as plainly as we can. Jesus just wants us to spread the truth...

Points to Ponder:
Do you get defensive when people ask you about your life?

Have you tried simplifying things and telling the truth?

January 1: Isaiah 43:16-21

Key Verse: Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Devotion:
What other verse could I use for the start of a New Year! Happy New Year! The last few years after my Dad died I have just been getting on with life and seeing what happens, but after going over these verses which actually mean a lot to me, I am aiming at getting to grips with a lot more this year!

These are the Words given to Isaiah from The Lord. They are special and we need to take note of things God says to us like this! He is our Creator God who has made everything and the one who opened the doors for Israel to do so much… so long as they continue to follow Him and to obey His commands.

I fear we have seen a side of the country of Israel which does not look like the people of Israel from the bible; but I’m not here to be political and to set blame anywhere but at my own feet. These words should be guided toward what He is asking of your own life and not used to judge others with!

God is the one who started doing something new in the hopes we will pick up the banner and continue this new thing He has started. We should not be looking for anything other than what God placed in our hearts about the work He wants us to do. He has already opened the doors and continues to hold them open for us to see and use!

Points to Ponder:
What doors has God opened lately?

Are you willing to go through them and complete His work?

December 25: Luke 2:1-14

Key Verse: Luke 2:14
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

Devotion:
Did you wonder why we looked at corruption and evil on Christmas Eve? Well, the corruption and evil in our world was personified by a certain Caesar Augustus when he called for a complete census of the entire Romans world! This census was not really to see how many people should pay him tax, but to try and find out who this person was would people said would be born as king!

Joseph and Mary (who was heavily pregnant at this time) went up to Bethlehem because that is where his family had to go to register. We all have heard of the trouble they had trying to find a place to stay, ending up in a stable, and how Mary gave birth to a boy. We have heard of the story of the shepherds coming to find the baby because they were told to by angels.

We hear stories about wise men coming from the East who wanted to find out what the stars were telling them; and their wonderful gifts for the baby Jesus. When the shepherds got there they found a baby, born in a stable and now lying in a manger. The most humble sight to see for someone the angels had said is the Messiah, the Lord!

Let us join these angels and praise God for allowing His Son to be born to a virgin just as He promised, and to know God ordained this a long time ago because of His great love for us all!

Points to Ponder:
Are you celebrating the right reason for the season today?

Happy Christmas and God bless you all!

Signing off for a few days of needed rest x