August 24: Luke 22:24-30
Key Verse: Luke 22:26
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
Devotion:
As Christians we often talk about being servants of God and some people do not quite understand what that means; why do we see some church leaders lord it over their congregations, or the church as an institution lording it over the local churches? I think Luke wrote down these words in a simple to understand manner and one which we should take on board from the very top of our church institutions right down to the newest member of the congregation.
We are not called to be a slave but a servant. Jesus was not a slave to everyone but a servant to everyone. He did not have to do anything and everything everyone said but chose to do many things asked of Him. He did not fear the people around Him (except at certain times when they were out to kill Him) but respected those who were willing to treat Him properly.
We have social structures which dictate who is in charge and who we look up to and we should be willing to live within those confines. None of those confines gives anyone the right to treat another as a slave or to mistreat anyone. When Jesus was mistreated by others He let them know. Jesus knew He was Lord but did not force that on anyone, instead giving everyone the chance to accept Him as Lord and believe in what He could do!
As Christians we should be trying to show others we are willing to serve them in whatever way we can, not give in to everything everyone wants. We should be willing to look out for others and help in any capacity we can but not to be taken for granted and used by others. We are given these special positions by God and Christ gives us the opportunity to work with Him in spreading the gospel – the best way being to love others and serve where we can and should!
Points to Ponder:
Do you see the difference between a slave and a servant?
Are you more willing to be a servant for Christ now?
August 23: Judges 9:6-15
Key Verse: Judges 9:15
‘The thorn-bush said to the trees, “If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thorn-bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!”
Devotion:
At first, when I read this section of scripture, my first thought was ‘what was that about?’ But as you get to sit and think on the words, new things come to mind. God does not want us to blindly accept all things and just do whatever is said we should do. Jotham confronted the people to try and make them stop and think about what they were doing. One of the things we seem to need in society is a leader who is willing to lead; but not only that, a leader who will take responsibility.
Unfortunately many leaders will hype up their position and their willingness to do all things to improve our communities, but most of them cannot hope to fulfil their promises they are making because they have not though things through. Even when one stands up and tells the truth people may be less likely to follow them because their path seems a bit tough to go through!
God has not promised us the easiest path in our lives, just the right path. If we look around and choose the easy parts and go with them, we are likely to miss out on the true path God has given us to tread. It is not always right to choose what we think everyone is following or to choose the popular path; sometimes we have to stand up for the truth and follow whatever that takes us through.
Most of all God wants us to stop and think about what we are doing and where we are going. Yes, sometimes it will be sitting in the shade of a thorn tree where we will get all manner of scratches when the wind blows or when people jostle us about; but when that is the path God is directing us on, we should follow. Not blindly, but with His guidance and through obedience.
Points to Ponder:
Are you going through a troubling time in your life?
God may not have chosen your immediate path, but He still wants to guide you!
August 22: Matthew 19:23-26
Key Verse: Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’
Devotion:
There is much debate at to what the significance of the camel and the eye of the needle refer to in this passage, needless to say it is seemingly impossible for the task to be done whether it is referring to an actual camel or an actual needle… Jesus was making a point which would stop and make the disciples think! There is nothing like an impossible task being set for you which will make you stop and think!
What Jesus wanted to do was to change the disciples’ minds about what God can do. They knew the scriptures and knew the stories of their ancestors’ journey through the desert after being freed from slavery. They knew the stories of how God did miracles and they were beginning to see how Jesus did miracles in front of them. So what was different about this time?
Jesus was introducing them to the idea something miraculous would have to be done in order for them to be able to join Him in Heaven after they had lived their lives. The path for what had to be done was already laid out and Jesus was walking that path already – the impossible had already begun and they would have to understand the steps to be taken so they could pass on this good news to everyone else.
Do not fret you are asking God to do things which you cannot do. Do not concern yourself how it can physically be accomplished. Just know you are asking God for something He has already promised can be done simply because you are asking it in the name of Jesus Christ who has taken away all your sins already!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get worried God will not do something for you?
Have you asked Him lately?
August 21: Judges 2:11-19
Key Verse: Judges 2:19
But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshipping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Devotion:
How many times did you get into trouble as a young person because you were left on your own? I know I did some pretty horrifying things when I was a young boy left to my own devices; things which my parents did not always find out about until many years later. But there lies the difference between our birth parents and our Father in Heaven! He gets to see everything you do all the time!
We really should look back on the history of the people of God in the bible and take some notes about how not to live! Even though God was the one who got them out of the slavery they were trapped in serving the people of Egypt, they would not always follow God. Much the same can be said about our own lives where we are directed by so many people to do what is right, but as soon as we think nobody is looking we run off and do strange things!
We see this pattern from the very beginning when God left Adam and Eve to their own devices; just a little temptation and they did strange things! We will continue to see this same pattern in the world because people are always going to be tempted to do what they desire instead of doing what is right.
God will always continue to put the right people in our lives to try and remind us of the righteous path we should be following. If we do not stop and listen to those people God puts in our lives, we may well see things go wrong. This does not mean we live a boring mundane life! God wants us to be happy and have fun – just within the bounds of righteousness where we can be safe with Him!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you get into trouble?
How often do you listen to God?