October 11: John 3:27-30
Key Verse: John 3:20
He must become greater; I must become less.
Devotion:
When John was baptising people, a lot of people had ideas about who he was; some saying he was the Messiah they had been waiting for... But that was just the hope the people had overflowing and becoming confused with what they were seeing. John made sure people knew he was not the Messiah but that God would be sending someone from Heaven to come and do much more than he could do.
John knew he had a task to do which was given to him by God and he did not stop trying to do as much as he could telling people about Christ and God.. I wonder how many people tried to stop John from baptising people. I wonder how much opposition he got from the Pharisees and people in charge at the time...
When we step forward in faith and do what God is calling us to do, people are going to make up their own minds about who we are and what we are doing. I have been labelled as many things which I put down because they are too fanciful for me, a plain human being, doing what God has called me to do. I don’t do it for fame or fortune. I do not do it for recognition. But I do stand up against people who will try to put me down for doing what God has called me to do!
When need to remain faithful to the calling God has called each of us to do. We need to remain vigilant to those who would oppose us and berate God. We need to continue making sure God gets the glory for what He has asked us to do. When we are faithful and continue to work as He asks – He is faithful to give us what we need to accomplish His requests!
Points to Ponder:
How much do you do for God?
How much recognition do you require?
October 10: Mark 3:1-6
Key Verse: Mark 3:3
Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, ‘Stand up in front of everyone.’
Devotion:
Jesus knew what the people were plotting, and He knew what was in their hearts; but He knew what God wanted and that was more important to share than what mankind was plotting! How many times have you shied away from doing something because people would say something bad about you for doing it? How many times have you given in to the pressures of people rather than standing up for what is righteous?
Difficult questions in difficult times... As we watch the number of cases of Coronavirus steadily climb in the UK, we wonder what we should be doing and what people are going to say when we do something different... so we continue to do the normal and nothing changes!
Well, if there was ever a time to stand up and make a difference, it is now. Not because the whole world is going to be watching you, but because not many people will see you doing anything! If you were scared to do anything beforehand, now is the time to do something when the streets are quieter and when others are focused on other things...
Jesus continues to call us to do His work no matter what is going on in the world around us. We can do so many things as Christians and now is our time to stand up and shine like the lights Jesus has made us to be. Now is the time to make a difference – not by breaking all the rules, but by doing what we can within the rules and showing people God cares for them.
Points to Ponder:
How many people do you know who are struggling?
Are you trying to make a difference in their lives?
October 9: Luke 11:5-10
Key Verse: Luke 11:9
So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Devotion:
O the audacity! I wonder how many times you have used these words or something similar when someone has been a bit too forthright in your view... But when you look back on the situation you begin to realise if they had not asked, then they may well have been in desperate trouble by now!
Sometimes we must step up and ask the bold questions we continue to try and ignore in our lives. Sometimes we must be the one to stand up and ask the question so others can gain the benefit. God wants us to be bold in our walk with Him so He can work His wonders in our world.
God wants people to see His work in the world and not for people to just accept things happen. How can God get the glory when we are not stepping forward and demanding things change or demanding support for the poor and needy? If God works silently behind the scenes, we can give Him the glory because we know He is working, but others will not see it that way.
God wants us to be bold in our prayers and allow others to see when we ask and how much we ask. Daniel had no problem letting people know he prayed three times a day and even opened his windows so people would know he was praying. Because of his boldness people began to see how God was answering his prayers...
Points to Ponder:
Do you hide away to pray to God?
What are you willing to stand up for today?
October 8: Luke 11:1-4
Key Verse: Luke 11:4
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Devotion:
It’s not always the people who stand up against you, rebel or try to stop you from doing you work which are the ones to look out for either... Sometimes it’s the people who have done something wrong against you and you still carry a grudge against them! These sorts of feeling can stop you from doing God’s work just as much as a physical wall can stop you from entering a room.
When Jesus was asked about how to pray, I wonder whether He was looking into the hearts of any of the disciples with Him. Far too often in our lives we rebel when someone does something a different way to us, and then we hold a grudge against them when they continue to do it their own way. Sometimes we need to embrace the differences within our communities and move forward with the love of Christ in our hearts.
Jesus continued to show the disciples what love was all about by being friends with all the ‘wrong people’ and encouraging them to seek the truth about God. We need to be able to do this as well in our lives. If we are holding grudges or have not forgiven someone because of what they have done in the past, then how are we going to be able to show them the love of Christ?
I have learned to put things behind me and move on in life; this means forgiving people for the things they have done, possibly things which have changed your life. Without that forgiveness, we cannot hope to share the love as Christ did. He was ready to forgive anyone and everyone, but some people just don’t want to look for that forgiveness and that can be a very big stumbling block in everyone's lives.
Points to Ponder:
Do you forgive and move one?
Is there someone who need to know you forgive them?