April 5: Psalm 4:2-3
Key Verse: Psalm 4:3
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Devotion:
Questions were asked by people such as king David a very long time ago: how long are people going to be chasing after lies instead of turning toward and accepting the truth. We can see this happening in all sorts of walks in life nowadays too; the latest of which is how some people are taking the lives of the people around them in their own hands by going out and mixing with others – not giving due care and attention toward others!
How long is it going to continue? Well, how long is a piece of string! We are human and we do chase after strange things in our lives, most of which are based around lies or vain beliefs. People want to lift themselves up and when they do, they don’t care too much about how many people they step on of affect. My heart goes out to the people who are trying to make a living in one way or another but are faced by blockades every step of the way; where normally they may go out and meet people or mix with others in order to try and get some work, they are stuck at home and not able to do this. The temptation for them to get out and do something which is against all advice is very strong!
If you know of someone who is struggling close to you, how about giving them a break and helping them out? How about suggesting something they are able to do in this time of lock-down? We are all facing hard times, but some are trapped de to circumstance in ways which we may view as criminal – and it is the people in charge who are acting like the criminals.
God has set us apart for a reason – to help others and allow them to feel like they have hope. We have hope through Jesus and we can depend on that hope. Some people do not yet know Jesus and have nothing but dark skies ahead – bring them a little light by sharing the hope we have that Jesus is here for us all. Make a difference by doing something for someone in need today!
Points to Ponder:
Do you know someone in need?
What are you going to do about it?
April 4: Titus 2:11-15
Key Verse: Titus 2:12
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Devotion:
Have you been tempted to do things you know are not right just because you are isolated and nobody else can see you doing things? I’m pretty sure we all have at least thought of things even if we cannot go out and do things! This is why our bibles, God’s Word, are so important in our lives. Without others to temper our thoughts and deeds, we need something we can cling to which is our guide through the rough times and our direction for the good times!
This is a long wait, sitting around inside thinking we have nothing to do and nowhere to go – but there is a lot of things we can do around the house which we may well have been putting off for a long time. Now is the time to get on and do things – because we know it is the right thing to do. I am getting fitter each day and was able to get stuck into a bit of gardening the other day, something I have not been able to do for more than a year! Yes, there is still a lot more I have to do in the garden to straighten it out again, but we will get there…
We have this HOPE in Christ, the promise of His return to us, the sure thing which is going to happen! If that is not enough to spurn you on to get on and do something which you have put off for far too long, then we have to dig a bit deeper! Yes, that first step is hard and it will take a lot of effort – you may even have back-ache or some other ache because you have not done that sort of exercise for a long time… but it is worth it!
Then there is our spiritual exercise which we may well have neglected too; time we need to set aside from our ‘busy’ lives at home and direct it toward and for God and for our spiritual growth. It will be hard to get back into things because we have not done this correctly for a while, but starting it is what counts and it sets us on the right path to walk closely with God – especially in our times at home!
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel like you have nothing to do?
When was the last time you sat and read a chapter of the bible?
April 3: James 2:18-24
Key Verse: James 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Devotion:
How do you see your faith? Is it a faith in secret where you don’t tell others, do you go out of your way to tell people about it or do you live out your faith? This is a question I asked myself when I was at school in Zimbabwe as a ‘New Christian’; I saw people around me shouting about their faith on Sundays but only a few who would do the work to keep things going… I’m not talking about work which has to be done around the church building and logistics to keep that building functioning and open… I’m talking about the few who make it their mission to keep the people together and focus them on our common goal of bringing glory to God!
I count myself lucky to be a part of a local church who continue to be active even in this time of self isolation. We continue to offer our help to people who would like it and those who need it – they don’t have to be members of the church, just local people we can reach out to without compromising public and personal safety. This is who we are and it makes me proud to be able to share God’s Word to anyone who would like to listen or read.
Some may question the work we do or offer; some of those who question our work are supposed to be the people who do the work we pick up. Why limit yourself to do the work which is sanctioned when you know there is someone who needs help in some way?
You see, when God asked us to go out into the world and take the gospel with us, He was not meaning we need to buy a plane ticket to the furthest community around the world we can imagine, He meant we need to go to the people who need help. That could be your next door neighbour! It could be the old couple just down the road who have been told they cannot go out. We just need to listen to God’s instructions and faithfully follow them to where He wants us to be. He will take care of us and protect us as best He can – and that has no limits!
Points to Ponder:
Do you ignore pleas for help just because the rules say so?
Will you listen to God’s instructions and reach out to the people around you?
April 2: Matthew 25:41-46
Key Verse: Matthew 25:42
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink
Devotion:
At first read this passage may seem dire and even heartless, but when you read it alongside all the warnings and all the advice we have been given – we should expect nothing less! No matter what other leaders around the world said about getting people to distance themselves from each other during this pandemic, governments of certain countries did not respond to the warnings… until they began to see the results of not listening to the warnings.
It is much the same in our spiritual world as well, God has given us the warnings, He has given us the advice and shown us the way forward – yet so many people choose to ignore these warnings and carry on doing their own thing. Jesus came to give people the warnings verbally; thankfully many people listened – but still more ignored those warnings.
Who is to blame? Is it God who has given out plenty of warnings? Is it Christ who came to warn us verbally? Is it the church who continues to proclaim the word and give the warnings? Or is it the person who ignores all of those warnings and continues to do their own thing? Unfortunately this does not just affect the person who ignores the warnings but all who come into contact with them. We have seen stark pictures of how physical distancing can stop the spread of a virus – but some people choose to ignore those warnings and they place everyone they are in contact with into the same danger they expose themselves to.
When a person chooses to openly ignore God’s warnings, they are showing all the people around them it is OK to ignore the warnings. Some of those people will see them doing wrong and choose to follow that example. Some people will simply give in from the struggle against evil and go with the flow. These are the people God is warning who will not get the chance to go to Heaven!
Points to Ponder:
Do you uphold God’s word?
Will you show others it is good and right to follow God’s word?