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?
October 7: Nehemiah 13:26-32
Key Verse: Nehemiah 13:31
But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’
Devotion:
One of the biggest obstacles we face with the work we do for God is other people! It often seems like we always get opposition to the work we do as Christians – but this is true for most things in life! We probably recognise it more because we believe we are doing what God has asked and therefore it should be true and supported by everyone! At least, that is how we see it!
God is no stranger to opposition but continues to uphold the truth and point people in the right direction. We may think we are the ones on the front-line who are facing the issues, but God is with us every step of the way. The harder we find the opposition, the more we are listening to that opposition and the less we are focusing on God...
I do love working for God and try to do what I can, when I can and with whomever is willing to work with God too! This has brought me opposition in life as people think I am not focusing enough on their work; but in the words of Jesus ‘for whoever is not against us is for us.’ There-in also lies our weakness because we focus on those who are against us rather than on those who are for us!
Do not be discouraged by the people who stand up against you. Rather continue to focus on what God is asking of you and He will ensure you are able to do his bidding. Caleb was willing to stand up and remind the people they would be able to do anything because God was with them. But still some would rather believe the stories of obstacles and issues before them. God wants us to have faith in what He has asked us to do...
Points to Ponder:
Do you listen more to the troublemakers or to the workers?
Are you willing to trust God’s guidance more than man's today?