October 2: Luke 9:46-50

Key Verse: Luke 9:50
‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’

Devotion:
One thing I continue to struggle with in church is the human assessed hierarchy imposed which people stick to rather than what Jesus was teaching! We this this in action when the disciples were discussing between them who would be the greatest: They were probably doing this by assessing who would do more and who would have the greater following.

God does not measure our worth by how many people get to follow us or how many people we say we ‘saved’ because it is not us doing the convincing and saving but the Spirit of God doing that in people’s hearts. We are only the instruments by which they can open the book and see what is available and God who changes their hearts by giving them purpose in His kingdom!

When we go about church business as a business instead of God’s kingdom, we lose focus on the important things in God’s eyes. When Jesus caught on to what the disciples were discussing He brought a child to stand next to Him and made it a personal choice. If they were willing to accept a strangers child as their own just because He asked them to, then would not Jesus accept them just because the Father had asked it of Jesus.

This is a very personal relationship we have with God and one which we should concentrate on because it is our personal relationship. If we simply do things because ‘the business’ demands it, then we are not considering God’s will in anything but man kinds will alone!

Points to Ponder:
How do you see yourself in your local church?

Will you simply be a child of God and act accordingly?

October 1: Luke 12:22-30

Key Verse: Luke 12:23
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Devotion:
I don’t know about you but I love to watch videos of the various harvesting methods from around the world at this time of year to see how much food the land gives us; all because God said He would provide for us! I know the farmers do work extraordinarily hard especially over the past month as they gather in all the crops and plan for storage and delivery; so I ask God to bless them for all they do and allow them to have plentiful harvests for their sakes.

We are reminded through these words by the apostle how we are reliant on God through nature to make the seeds germinate, how they seedlings have to be taken care of and eventually the harvest gathered for all people to enjoy. But we also see how God supplies all of nature with the food they need to continue their survival too. Animals of all kinds do not normally have to store vast amounts of food in hugs bins and silos because God has taught them how to gather the right amount.

We should take notice of the fact they know how to gather the right amount because many try to store up more than they need or buy too much when others are in need. We need to remember God has placed us in charge of keeping each other alive and not just survival of the fittest!

God placed so much provision and beauty around us through nature and we need to remember who the supplier is. We need to remember how much we need to work and support each other so we can all survive. We need to love our neighbours so nobody needs to go hungry when they don’t have the means to gather or buy supplies… because God has asked us to do so!

Points to Ponder:
Do you have a hand in the food supply chain?

Why not try to be a helping hand for someone who needs assistance?

September 30: Jeremiah 31:10-13

Key Verse: Jeremiah 31:11
For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

Devotion:
God’s plan for us all is not written down in books so we can be ready for everything which comes our way, but He does know what our destinies are. He continues to place the right people at the right places at the right times so others can get to know Him and to reach for a life in Heaven with Him. When we look back in our lives and in the lives of the people around us we will see just how much God is doing behind the scenes to try and make our lives better. That is how much he loves us!

We may be very surprised by some of the things which God has planned in our lives and we may question how some of those things could have anything to do with Him and His love for us; but God is always there watching out for us.

Sometimes the evil one does get his way because not everyone will listen to God. Sometimes terrible things seem to happen in our lives and we wonder why God is allowing them to happen. It is not God’s doing all the time! God has given us free choice in our lives and sometimes we, and the people around us, make the wrong choice. When that happen we may well have to suffer the consequences of our choices.

It is not God controlling everything otherwise that would make us puppets and Him the puppeteer. God wants us to be safe and secure, filled with the Spirit and enjoying all the love and grace He tries to push our way.

Points to Ponder:
Do you find joy living with Christ?

Will you allow Him to guide you more?