Tuesday 9 July 2024

DJ

July 9: Matthew 9:32-38

Key Verse: Matthew 9:34
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

Devotion:
Have you noticed how people will blame something else or make up a story or lie to ensure they are not shamed in some way? If you dare to show up someone by exposing their lie or their shortcomings, you can expect to have some sort of backlash where they will try to turn the lies on you in some desperate attempt to cover up their own lies.

Jesus faced this when He was doing God’s healing amongst the people. The temple leaders, Pharisees and others in charge had covered up their shortcomings for too long and Jesus was slowly exposing their lies. They did not like this and they tried to tell more lies to cover up their lies. Unfortunately, this never works!

Jesus stood up to the lies and used God’s Word to make sure people would get to know the truth. Lies will never stand up against God’s Word because his Word is the truth – we should make sure whatever we do we are doing it for the glory of God and by carrying out His will in our lives. This will be backed up by Scripture unless we start inventing our own rules like the leaders back then!

God wants honest and faithful people to come forward to help others to be honest and faithful too.

Points to Ponder:
How often do you lie to cover up a lie?

Have you tried telling the truth and supporting it with God’s Word?

Monday 8 July 2024

DJ

July 8: Matthew 9:18-26

Key Verse: Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Devotion:
One of the things Jesus wanted the disciples to know was how their own faith could make such a difference. Some people were healed seemingly without Jesus having to do anything; to these people Jesus made sure it was their faith which made all the difference. If we have faith Christ is going to do something, He will make sure our faith is made whole by our prayers being answered.

The synagogue leader came to Jesus knowing He could heal his daughter even though she had physically died. This was the faith this person had in Christ and Jesus wanted to show others this faith was real!

On His way to bring the daughter back to life, a woman only needed to touch his garment for her to be heal – such was her faith that Jesus healed her on the spot.

When we come to Christ with expectant prayer, He is faithful and willing to make sure our prayers are answered. This faith grows faith in others because they see faith being realised and coming to life. The more we expect Jesus to do things, the more He is able to do things because He knows He can count on our faith. God does not miss a trick!

Points to Ponder:
How strong would you say your faith is?

Do you expect Jesus to answer your prayers?

Sunday 7 July 2024

DJ

July 7: Matthew 6:7-13

Key Verse: Matthew 6:12
They went out and preached that people should repent.

Devotion:
Whenever I have heard people talk about Jesus sending the disciples out, they have focused on the things Jesus told them not to do: not to take anything with them, not to worry about supplies and payment, not to enter houses where they are not welcome… all the negative things. But what I picked up today when I read these verses was what the disciple actually did do!

They went out and preached that people should repent! Yes, they did the other things like driving out demons, anointing sick people, making people well and all the other things people focus on; but the core of this all was to get the people to see they had done something wrong in their lives and that they had to repent because of that. This is the first step in getting to a right place with God!

God wants you to know you have done something wrong so you can understand what it is which is keeping you apart from Him. Once we understand we have a problem, we can move forward by asking Him to forgive us. He has already promised us He will forgive us when we repent, so what is holding us back? Pride!

Once we get over ourselves we can step forward and start to make a good relationship with Christ; and it all start with us repenting!

Points to Ponder:
What do you think a disciple should do?

Where do we start to get into a relationship with Christ?

Saturday 6 Jul 2024

DJ

July 6: Matthew 9:14-17

Key Verse: Matthew 9:15
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Devotion:
One thing which seemed to bother many people was the way the disciples acted when around Jesus. They had been brought up in very strict circumstances and they tried to follow the scriptures to the letter – well, as best they could understand them!

Jesus was not there to upturn things but to show people God knew they were human and knew they would get things wrong from time to time. The important part was not the sticking to the letter of the law but what was in the hearts of the people. If they knew in their hearts they loved God and wanted to do what they could to please God, then God would see what they had in their hearts and be happy with that!

Too often we get caught up in red tape and all manner of rules and regulations, losing sight of what it means to be a child of God. Children get things wrong, but the parent still love them. Children grow up to learn to love their parents (assuming a rightful relationship exists to start with) and the love shows between child and parent.

When we love God, our love for Him should be on show, not in a boastful manner to exclude others, but in a way to include others in how we live with God and how we commune with Him.

Points to Ponder:
Do you get caught up in rules?

Will you focus on loving God instead?