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November 11: Psalm 86:14-17
Key Verse: Psalm 86:15
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Devotion:
What goes through your mind when people attack or abuse you for seemingly no reason? I’m sure we have all faced some opposition to what we do as Christians, but when people attack you because they don’t know what you are trying to do, it can get very disheartening. Jesus wants us to know we have a friend in Him who is standing with us and defending us at every opportunity!
It is easy to attack back when we are attacked, but this is not what God is trying to teach us. He knows we are going to face opposition and knows we are going to find it hard – but if we are willing to call on Him for support and trust Him with that support, we can get through so much more.
Unlike our short fuses which get tried over and over again, God has compassion and grace which extends far beyond our means and our minds. He will not get angry with us just because we slip up and do something wrong. He will not condemn us just because we tripped up. God’s love for us means we can still make mistakes and know He is going to continue loving for us and caring for us!
We long to see positive action being taken when we go out to do something for God. We love to see some rewards for what we do... because that is what we are like. God longs to see us do things for Him too, but He will never hold it against us when we fail to live up to righteousness goals. Always be on the watch for the things God does in your life because He is doing amazing things all the time!
Points to Ponder:
Do you live life for the rewards?
Will you humble yourself and live for God?
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November 10: Luke 22:35-38
Key Verse: Luke 22:36
He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Devotion:
How many times have you stopped what you were doing because you saw someone else doing what you were trying to achieve? How many times have you stopped just because the going got a bit tough for you? If we are brutally honest, we have all thrown in the towel at some stage in our lives just because it got a bit difficult or it looked like someone else was doing it better!
Jesus knew what lay ahead for the next few hours and days, yet He continued to press forward doing everything which was required so we could enjoy the gift He was giving us! Jesus knew a sword would be needed to complete His work and He wanted to make sure they had a sword at hand. He did not promise a smooth ride all the way. He did not promise an easy life for the disciples. But He gave them hope to look forward to!
I am writing this just as the news is breaking about a viable vaccine being available to help against Coronavirus! We are being given hope, but even with that hope we are still a long way off being ‘safe’ because we are facing terrible times ahead until such time as the vaccine is made available to everyone. There will still be heartbreak and sorry as people continue to die and be adversely affected by the virus – but we have hope!
Jesus had to be counted as a rebel, as a villain, as someone who was working against the country in order for Him to be hung on the cross for our cause. He knew what lay ahead, but knew He had to endure so we could have hope. Just as we were talking about people in the wars and conflicts before us laying down their lives for our sake, so too are we called to lay down our pride and desires to give others hope in Christ!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you focus on other's needs?
Will you set aside your desires for someone else's needs today?
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November 9: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Key Verse: 2 Timothy 2:6
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
Devotion:
How good is your country at serving justice? Unlike tyranny, justice works for the good of the country and its people, not for the good of a single leader! The people who do the work should be the people who are rewarded for what they contribute toward the good of others. Individual reward should be given when it is due, not because the few have the positions which have titles to them...
Jesus did not come down as a God who did everything His own way, or as an all-powerful God who wanted complete control over everything. Instead, He humbled Himself before mankind to show His utter love for us. He gave His life for us so that we could be free. The United Kingdom has just celebrated a Remembrance Day with a big difference because the crowds were not there due to the Covid pandemic. We remembered all those who humbled themselves before their country and gave their lives so we could live.
We should never forget what they have done, just as we never forget what Christ has done for us. These are the people who deserve the reward, not the people who govern with iron fists or guns...
I used to live on the edge of a farmer's field where I would see farmers working long and hard hours, even into the small hours of the morning if that was what was needed. They did this because they wanted to, and they knew what was best to deliver the best crops every year.
Everyone can reach out to others in a humble and loving way; if we try!
Points to Ponder:
Are you reaching out to people?
Will you step forward and offer help to someone today?
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November 8: 1 Peter 5:5-7
Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Devotion:
For all of us who still view ourselves as Children of the church and not elders (despite us being “really old” in our grandchildren’s eyes) we do have our parts to play in the church just as much as the elders who should be living as examples. We need to show we are willing to listen and learn from people in the church who have been learning God’s Word a tad longer than we have!
I must admit to finding it difficult to follow some church leaders who display a rambunctious attitude toward their positions within God’s church. We need to set aside our pride for self-worth and humble ourselves to the people around us. God does not want a bunch of self-righteous people leading a church in a deprived area! God wants people who are willing to set things aside to live with the people and help from the inside.
We are God’s chosen elect – we are people who have been selected by God to make a difference in our areas, in our communities and with our neighbours. To do this we need to put aside our ways and look for the need in our communities. We cannot drive our communities to live as we do. We must live according to God’s will in our lives and be examples for and with the people around us even if we don’t agree with them. We are not called to judge others. We are called to love one another!
Does this get you worried you will not be able to live up to the example or accept other people as being different? Well, step back and give your worries to God. He is able to work things out with you in ways you don’t know or think about – because He is God and knows the needs of others. If we stop and listen to Him instead of racing ahead of ourselves, we will be able to be the example He wants us to be!
Points to Ponder:
Do you dismiss some people's lives because they are different?
Will you stop and think what Jesus did whilst in human form?
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November 7: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:2
be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
Devotion:
After continuing to hear business leaders in the UK react to the lock-down with shouts of “unfair” and other short words, I was taken back by some church leaders who are reacting in a seemingly worldly manner to the locking down of church buildings. We are all people living in the same country and we are being led by people we have elected to position. Whilst we should make ourselves heard as Christians, we should also be setting an example for others to follow.
God calls us to be leaders in our communities and as leaders we need to encourage people through positive actions and not dismissive or negative actions which undermine society and community. We should not be doing this because we are elected into position or because we think it is our civil duty, but because we want to and are willing to make a difference.
The church is not the building – that is just a place where the church meets. The church is us! We are the church. All of us! Our local church used to meet in a community centre as we have not been able to meet up for a very long time because of this pandemic. But we continue to work together as a church and help out our communities as much as possible.
God has entrusted us with positions within the church to lead. He has made us the way we are so we can help the people where we are. He has led us to this time and this position to make a difference with the people, not the buildings! Love your neighbours and make a difference for them today!
Points to Ponder:
Where do you meet as a church nowadays?
Are you willingly doing what God is asking of you?
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November 6: 1 John 5:1-5
Key Verse: 1 John 5:5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Devotion:
Ok, I get it. We need to follow the law. This is the will of God, our communities and of our countries... But... How many of God’s laws have we corrupted because we think we know what God means! We read a few verses and we think we know the will of God! Let’s get real...
It takes a whole lot of studying and even more prayer, meditation and even more reading and studying before we can begin to fully understand God’s Word. I believe that is why Christ made sure we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through our lives. The more we try to figure things out, the more we get tied up in the definition of things according to our country ways or our community ways.
When Jesus talked about love, it was all inclusive love, loving the people who are around us; not because we think we should, not because we think they know what is right, but because God wants us to love openly! I despair at so called Christians who use their positions to influence others into doing things their way because I must question whether they are listening to God!
How do we overcome this? How do we get away from peer pressure? How do we figure out what is right? God has given us instructions, His Word, the scriptures, from which we need to learn how to trust and obey God and obey His ways!
I want people to stop using political excuses, social variances, racial prejudice and homophobia to justify rules in their lives which they say come from God. God inspires me to love people, not matter what their background and no matter where they are in life. Yes, it is hard to love people who abuse your trust or your way of life, but we need to allow God to show us how to include them in our love. Believe in Christ and love all people like Jesus does!
Points to Ponder:
What do you do when your country imposes hard-to-follow rules?
Will you believe and trust God to give you the answers?
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November 5: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:17
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Devotion:
In this second letter to Timothy, Paul writes about a few of the hardships he has had during his ministry and encourages Timothy to stay resolute, not because of the hardships he will face but because he has learned the scriptures from people he knew. Timothy accepted the scriptures as the truth in the beginning and continued to grow in his faith because of what he had seen and heard.
We don’t get to hear much about some of the important people who lived during these times because they simply believed the scriptures and got on a did the work which was required. They did not boast about things they did or make sure they attained important positions within society or the church – they just got on and did what was asked of them by God.
This is the example we need to follow; just like the example Jesus gave to us as well. Now, we know of Jesus and many things He did because He is the Son of God, but so many of the things which Jesus did are not written down because the disciples could not write and remember of them all the time!
The one thing I want to highlight here is Timothy knew what to do and did it because he read about things in the scriptures. The same scriptures some were using to try and trip Jesus us were used to support Timothy’s teaching. We need to take the scriptures and use them to support our argument that Jesus is the Son of God and has come to save the world. We need to be the workers who get out there and do the work because God has asked us, not because important people said we should!
Points to Ponder:
Do you trust God’s Word?
How do you listen to Christ?
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November 4: Isaiah 42:10-13
Key Verse: Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
Devotion:
How many times do you put something off because you are either afraid to step forward or you just cannot see how you can do what is being asked of you? I know I have put things off many times in my life and last year showed me how dangerous putting things off was when I was hospitalised for much of the year due when I may have been able to avoid things if I had gone to the doctor and had a diagnosis earlier!
But many of us also put off doing things for God because we just cannot see how we can be as good as any of the evangelical people we may see and hear about! God is probably not asking us to be high profile evangelical prophets, but He is asking every single one of us to spread the gospel to those who don’t yet know it!
I have missed not being able to sing out loud in church as we celebrate having a Saviour who is Jesus; but I fully understand how difficult it is to live within social and medical guidelines during this pandemic. So, going into a further country-wide lock-down does not sit well with me; but I understand. This is not going to stop me from being an example to others as well spreading the gospel through written word either!
We may not be able to meet up in church as a congregation, but we can continue to sing out our praises in any way we can. Sing out your joy in knowing Christ. Sing about what He has done in your life. Sing about the hope we have for our future with Him. Sing in your own, new way...
Points to Ponder:
Are you ready to tell others about Christ?
What new way will you think of to make the gospel known?
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November 3: Isaiah 43:16-21
Key Verse: Isaiah 43:18
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Devotion:
We have a God who has demonstrated beyond doubt how precious we are to Him through the example of leading His chosen people out of the hands of tyranny in Egypt. He did this through miraculous examples where the people were protected beyond belief – something many people nowadays forget and discard through worldly suggestions.
But God is also telling us far more things are going to be different as we move through our lives and through the lifetime of this world. God is the same today as He was and will be. He is the God of change when change is necessary! The more things get out of hand on earth, the more He has to change things in our present times!
He has told people over the ages to forget about the old ways of doing things and focus on the present and future ways in which He is guiding us. Much like the times we are going through with this pandemic. We have messed up, we broke rules, we relaxed and did not act in time. Yes, governments should have acted instead of waiting and re-acting, but we must bear responsibility as well.
Just as we must bear responsibility for our own sins and bring them to God, we must bear responsibility for things we have done wrong against medical advice and must move on in a new way of living. This does not mean turning our backs on God or His people but turning towards Him and them with a new way of doing things safely and earnestly. This is the will of God!
Points to Ponder:
Do you know how much prayer can change lives?
Will you start an active prayer chain to lift up your country today?
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November 2: Isaiah 43:1-7
Key Verse: Isaiah 43:5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
Devotion:
It is no secret Isaiah 43 holds special meaning to me, not just because it was the chapter from which we chose a verse to use as a tag-line for our youth organisation, but because people have pointed me back to this chapter on so many occasions – people who do not know what I have done with and without God.
This is a reminder to the Jews that God has chosen them to be the example of what His love can do in our lives. Even when they went astray and needed a kick in the pants to get back on track, God continued to be there and encourage them in all walks of life. Here is where God was reminding them they would be called to be a people together, worshipping God. Not as split communities competing against each other, but as one family working to live together with God!
God’s words of encouragement, delivered by Isaiah, are He is with us every step of our lives. When we feel overwhelmed with the world around us, He will make sure we can make it through. When we are drowning in the worldly things around us, He will keep our head above the water. He does not say we have to swim harder and out-live the troubles through our own strength... He says He will make sure we survive.
This may mean a few hard knocks in our lives after which we will feel like we have been battered; but because of His great and enduring love for us, He will ensure we survive. This could be other people popping up just at the right time to hold our hands, or something changing in our lives – but God is behind each and every step, helping us along the way!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you feel overwhelmed?
How many of those times have you given the situation to God?