November 8: Luke 14:25-27

Key Verse: Luke 14:26
‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple.

Devotion:
This is one verse which will always be taken out of context and talked about in so many ways; but by taking it out of the context of the things which were happening around Jesus on this particular day, we get a different story to what Jesus wanted people to hear!

Many people were now following Jesus around; the picture we often think of is Jesus being followed by 12 eager students willing to learn, but in reality Jesus was always thinking of the many people who were following Him. Many of these people would have followed Him because of the healing and miracles. Some would be following Him to learn more. A few may have been following Him to try and trap Him into saying something wrong…

But on this day Jesus reached out to the crowds to try and get them to think about why they were following Him. We get people who go to a particular church to see the things which are happening. We get people who go to a church to sing with a big band. We get people who go to a church because they can learn much as a student from the priest.

Jesus wanted to stop people and make them think about the real reasons they were meeting or following Him. He wanted people to search their hearts and think about what God meant to them. God wants us to be real, to know in our hearts why we follow Him and to be able to express why too! This is the start of a real relationship with Him!

Points to Ponder:
Do you know why you go to the church you go to?

How is your relationship with Christ?

November 7: Romans 12:14-16

Key Verse: Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Devotion:
As a youngster I can remember lashing out at people who did things against me and then feeling bad for doing so afterward. At the time of lashing out I was probably too caught up in anger and did not think of what I was doing to the other person. In the last decade I have found myself in positions where people have done bad things toward me and I have had to take time to think about how I should act; I am glad I have taken the time to think and not lash out as I would have done when I was younger!

Those times may have been testing but being able to think of a calm solution and a way forward which involved positive actions and not negative actions has led to me being able to find ways out of the situations. Asking God for help and listening to Him for answers has proved even more valuable!

It is little wonder then Jesus is telling us to use love instead of hate, to think of others instead of ourselves and to honour those around us even when they seem to hate us. When He says we should bless and not persecute, and bless instead of cursing it is to try to diffuse the situations and to allow others to think of a more positive and loving ways forward.

The key is not to think ourselves as being above anyone else but to honour others no matter how bad the situation seems to be. Doing so will make them think again about the way they are acting and allow them room to show love as well.

Points to Ponder:
How often do you act out of spite?

How often do you act out of love?

November 6: Luke 14:12-14

Key Verse: Luke 14:12
Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

Devotion:
One of the things we often look for in life is what we can get in return for doing something. Our whole work ethic is based around this: you work for a known goal to get paid a certain amount. But that is not what is being talked about here, instead we are talking about giving things and not expecting anything in return.

Now we could give to the people around us, and I find myself doing this a lot. But when we do those people more often than not will do something in return for you. So Jesus was encouraging us to do things for people whom we know do not have the means to pay us back in kind. I agree the world would be a better place if we did all do things for each other even if they did things in return for us…

But Jesus wants us to go further than that and to never expect anything in return for the things we do. I learned this attitude from a very dear friend of mine who turned us around and went back to a local sandwich shop to buy a meal and drink for someone on the side of the road who had no clear means of paying him back. That act made me refocus on how I did things from that moment on.

Jesus came to do things for us knowing full well we did not have the means to pay Him back for what He did. The only thing He asks is that we love Him and those around us. Don’t be a giver because you know you’ll receive!

Points to Ponder:
What do you expect for the thing you do?

Will you try to do something for someone who cannot hope to pay you back?