Sunday 24 Dec 2023

DJ

December 24: Psalm 89:46-51

Key Verse: Psalm 89:46
How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?

Devotion:
One thing we see time and time again is people, churches and societies complaining about God punishing them in one way or another. Many people complain when God does not do anything, or they complain God stopped doing things, or they complain God is punishing them… But what is actually happening?

I know whatever I say, people will object to the message and people will disagree one way or another. I can’t see how God can say on one hand He will look out for us and keep us safe and on the other hand will choose to punish us in any way! So that theory is out the window before we even start the discussion!

Who are the people who make it difficult for us to live? Who are the people who make living a hardship? Who are the people to kill others? When we are honest we will begin to see the truth and our complaints may then take on a new light. Is it not other people who cause so many of the things in our lives, maybe even governments and leaders… but not God. God promised He would allow us to choose our own paths; so how can He stop us from choosing?

If we choose to have people who are corrupt and lie as our leaders, should we not expect to have them corrupt our lives and lie to us too! None of us can live without death because we all face death in the end. None of us can expect everyone else to be good is we are not good. This is a problem of corrupt and evil people making our lives harder to live, not God making it hard!

Points to Ponder:
Do you live a blame free life?

Do you expect everyone to be truthful if you are not?

Saturday 23 Dec 2023

DJ

December 23: Luke 1:57-66

Key Verse: Luke 1:64
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Devotion:
Remember Elizabeth’s husband, the priest Zechariah, how he was no longer able to speak after the angel of the Lord came and told him about this son who was going to be born even though they were old! Well this was the moment after Zechariah wrote down on a tablet that his son was to be named John!

Just as the angel had said, Zechariah would not be able to speak until everything had come to pass; and that last step was him naming his son John! These are the promises of God – they do come true and they will astound us. This is the hope we have in God, these promises He has made will all come true some day.

We can look back and see how John was born to prepare the way for Jesus. How Jesus followed him about 6 months or so later. How they both learned so much about God. How John started preaching to make sure people were ready. How Jesus came to finish the task and free us from our sin debt… This means we can look forward to the other things God has said will come true!

What is the biggest thing which keeps those doubts running round your head? Will you speak with God through Christ to ask Him to give you faith to continue believing? Will you wait on the Holy Spirit for His guidance and strength so you can have that faith? Just as you may have taken the chance to believe in many things in your past, maybe you can make room for Christ to work in your heart and show you how real He is!

Points to Ponder:
Are you ready?

Will you allow Christ to work in your heart?

Friday 22 Dec 2023

DJ

December 22: 1 Samuel 1:24-28

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 1:27
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

Devotion:
What has the birth of Samuel got to do with Christmas? Well, it’s not the birth but the actions of his mother we are looking at here. This is the same women who was crying in the temple begging God to give her a son and promising she would bring him to the temple to serve with the priests if God allowed her to become pregnant.

God answered Hannah’s prayers and she delivered on her promise to God. This is what we are looking at today. Elizabeth brought up her son to be the one who would prepare the way for Jesus. Mary brought up her son knowing he was the Messiah, and did her best to make sure he was ready for his ministry. Each of these woman had no issue with submitting to God!

I don’t know about you, but I have asked God to do things for me in the past and said I would do my best to remain loyal to Him. I know He has answered my prayers and I know I have done what I can to remain loyal; but I have fallen short because I was not strong enough at certain times. Samuel remained strong. John remained strong. Jesus was the episteme of strength!

We should be more than willing to stand firm and praise God all the time. We should be more than willing to stand by our bibles and continue to share the gospel. Jesus has done so much for us and because of that we should be more than willing to do more for Him. This Christmas why not try and do something to show people you love God & all of His people!

Points to Ponder:
Do you ask things of God?

Is He asking something of you?

Thursday 21 Dec 2023

DJ

December 21: Luke 1:39-45

Key Verse: Luke 1:44
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Devotion:
As we draw closer to celebrating Christmas, how are you going to mark the memory of the time of our Saviour’s birth? I have done different things over the years from doing absolutely nothing to spending most of the day with other like-minded people enjoying worship and prayers and feasts… but none of this is any good unless we do know this is all about celebrating the birth of our Saviour!

When a pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb kicked with excitement when she heard Mary’s greeting! I can remember watching my wife’s belly as the baby (my son) kicked when I talked to him; the joy that brings you is incredible. Elizabeth must have been very happy to hear the voice of Mary, but the baby was even more thrilled!

What am I getting at here – we really do need to remember Christmas is all about the birth of Christ as well as being with family. Some of us do not have family to go to, or we are separated from family by great distances, but we can still be with them in thought and love. We have the luxury of being able to call people far away using telephones with cameras! Back then you jumped on a mule (if you were lucky) and road for a full day to see someone!

But remember Christ in all of this and give Him thanks for starting this all off in the beginning. He knew we were going to mess things up so He came in person to make sure we could be forgiven by God the Father despite all we have done in our lives!

Points to Ponder:
How are you celebrating Christmas?

Will you stop and thank Christ for being here for you?