January 31: Galatians 5:19-26
Key Verse: Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Devotion:
As we round off the first month of the year we round off our walk with Christ in these verses. I guess we all do know what the ways of the world are – if not then we must have our heads buried deep under ground! But how many of us can recount the fruits of the spirit as given in these verses? With my youth work I learned a couple of songs about the fruits of the spirit and cannot help singing the fruits in my mind when anyone asks!
Sometimes that is what we all need in our lives; a song which will bring the words of the Lord back to us and allow us to focus on them, celebrating them with Christ in worship. There are some amazing words in the old hymnals we have spread through our churches, but there are also many modern songs which also pick up on the words in our bibles and allow us to remember them just as well. I love singing both modern worship songs as well as hymns from our past – because they all help me to remember God’s words and draw me closer to God in my daily walk.
There are many worldly laws against the ways of the world: sexual immorality, hatred etc, but there are no laws which prevent us from showing and sharing the fruits of the spirit. Showing and sharing love is listed first because it is so important; Jesus made sure we knew that too. The list ends with gentleness and self-control being the focus on ourselves and through which we can work toward love.
We live with the Holy Spirit and to get the most out of this life with Him, we need to make sure we walk in step with Him! I saw a wonderful film clip recently of some young people trying to march or walk in step with each other from when I was a child (back in the 70s!) It takes practice to be able to walk in step with others, especially when you are the one trying to keep in step with them. But through practice, we get better at it and become an example through which others can be encouraged. Practice walking with the Spirit and you will be that example too.
Points to Ponder:
What is your lifestyle like?
Will you try and walk in step with the Holy Spirit in February?
January 30: 2 Corinthians 12:19-21
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Devotion:
I wonder whether God has placed something on your heart and you have not yet taken up the challenge… I found myself in this position a few years back when I was “between youth jobs”. I knew God had plans for me, but had not listened to find out what and where. So why have I picked these verses for a question like this?
Many times in our lives we shy away from having to do something because we think it is going to be hard work or something we are not going to be able to cope with; but when God is calling you to do something, you need to be listening to Him because it is the best thing for you to be doing. It may well seem like hard work and it may seem like you are about to walk into a storm because of the people you are being called to go to – but when you get there are knuckle down to what God has called you to do, it all starts to make sense!
Yes, it may well be hard work. Yes, there may well be times you have to berate people for what they are doing. But unless you are going to do that, just maybe those people will not be able to fully grasp what God has in store for them. I love seeing people admit to the fact we are shining lights in a dark world; the darkness cannot stop us because as soon as light enters into the space, darkness is no more!
Do not be put off by the actions of others. Do not be put off by the lives others live. If God is calling you to witness to such people, He is also going to lift you up and protect you in your calling. You do not have to join in with the lifestyle of the people around you – in fact you need to ensure you are that shining light others will be able to count on. Be the example God has called you to be; but don’t go in and think you are better than the people around you! God has called you to be a witness to them and an example through which they will be encouraged, giving them hope.
Points to Ponder:
What has God called you to be?
Will you submit fully to God’s will for your life?
January 29: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:2
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
Devotion:
I don’t think any of us like to confront people with what they are doing wrong just as Paul did not like having to confront the Corinthians – but, he was willing to do so to stop them following the ways of the world! The more people live in the ways of the world, the more they are willing to push their ways and the ways of the world instead up upholding God’s ways. Just like the passage yesterday, we need to remember we are working against spiritual powers and need God’s power and wisdom to bring us through and allow us to promote gospel ways!
I wonder how many times teachers had to (or have to) tell you off because of the things you did (or do) in class which are not right! The way the teachers used to stop us from doing things wrong was with a cane – the ways teachers do this now are very different; but they are still ways of the world and not the way Christians should be doing things.
Christ calls us to uphold the gospel and promote the gospel to encourage others on the right path and not to constantly punish people when they step off the path He has described in our lives! The weapons we should be using are not the canes from long ago, nor the exclusions and others ways of the world today but rather we have the divine power of God through which we can accomplish so much more.
Don’t limit your ways to the ways of the world but rather allow God to use His ways and His powers to overcome the worldly and spiritual powers we work against. It is said that a single voice cannot do much, but multiple voices can do so much more; I put it to you that a single voice backed up by the most powerful and wise voice in our world can do immeasurably more than we can imagine! This means obeying God and trusting more to Him than we do now...
Points to Ponder:
How strong do you think you are?
Will you give your battles to God to win the wars?
January 28: Ephesians 6:10-17
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Devotion:
One of the greatest things I love about being a child of God is the protection He offers us each and every day of our lives with Him. But just as we do obtain protection from Him, we also need to make sure we have the best protection available: this means putting on the full armour of God. Our armed forces dress appropriately for battle wearing protective gear against being shot and also carrying weapons they can use when required.
Our struggle, as mentioned here in there verses, is not will other armies or people, but with rulers, authorities and the powers of this dark world. For these we have to be prepared to fight back against injustice and wrong-doings. But we also fight against spiritual forces for which we have no real powers by ourselves; through Christ and the Holy Spirit we have the ability to fight these forces.
But what use is the best weapon going to be unless we know how to use it or how to deploy it? We could have the very best the world has to offer, and we know we have the very best God has to offer, but if we do not know how to use this protection and these weapons, we may as well be running into battle with our bare hands – not the best thing to do!
God wants us to be truthful and inform people about the gospel message to start the war against evil. Then we need to listen to the guidance from the Holy Spirit as He tries to guide us in the best possible way forward. Don’t back down when people argue about the gospel; stick to the truth and stand firm in that truth. We may not be able to see tangible evidence of the power God can yield through us, so we need to have faith it is there and faith it will deliver us in all circumstances. The evil one is going to use circumstances around us to make us doubt – don’t believe him! Christ has promised us this all; take it in faith and firmly believe it!
Points to Ponder:
Do you have doubts about your faith?
God does not doubt His power or His faith?