June 16: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:10
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Devotion:
One of the things I like to say when asked if I am religious is to say “no, but I have a relationship with God!” This is one of the greatest things we have in our lives, this relationship with God! Paul was very religious until he got to know God through the Holy Spirit; he would do everything that religion had taught him to do, upholding the religious laws and working toward some reward he believed he would get. But once he found a true link to God, everything else was put aside and his real life with Christ began.
As I was reading through these verses today I began to think about my relationship with Christ and realised just how important it is, but also how hidden it can be to others! When I was in hospital a few years back I always felt safe and secure in God’s hands. It is a feeling I cannot forget and one which gives me great strength today. Unfortunately I was not telling the people around me what I was experiencing and they saw it as a nonchalant approach to my illness!
We must allow people to see the relationship we have with Christ out in the open and not hidden under our beds or away in cupboards. The more we get to know Christ the more we get to see how much He looks out for us in our daily lives. The writer laments about being pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted and struck down, but never crushed, in despair, abandoned or destroyed. These are the feeling I had in hospital – I knew I was in a very bad state because of the way the doctors were treating me, but I also knew Christ had me firmly in His grip!
No matter what happens to us in this world, we can know we have a Saviour who has gone above and beyond to make sure we have access to eternal life through Him. Jesus showed us this by going through unimaginable events before being hung on a cross to die; then He rose triumphantly from the grave to show us what we can expect in our futures!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get upset with things in your life?
Will you try to trust Christ during those times?
June 15: Psalm 78:36-40
Key Verse: Psalm 78:38
Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
Devotion:
How many times do you forgive someone before you have had enough? How many times do you show mercy when others are already withdrawing from the situation? When we look back on God’s chosen people we find a long string of events which work against the law given to Moses and hence against God; yet He continued to show them mercy time and time again.
We need to take note of how far God was willing to go in showing love and mercy and try to replicate that in our lives toward the people around us. Yes, that does mean we need to show mercy to those who work against us and ignore the law and rules everyone else follows… but it does not mean we need to follow them in what they do or to support them in breaking the rules.
God showed righteousness throughout history and continues to uphold righteousness. He cannot accept the sins we do or the evil ways of mankind; but He shows us mercy and gives us the chance to say we are sorry and ask for His forgiveness. If we do that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and start again – what we do next is what will define our relationship with Him!
God wants to love and support us all the time, but when we walk away from Him and embrace the ways of the world instead of His ways, there is not always room for the love and support He reaches out with. We need to actively seek Him out and invite Him to be a part of our lives. We need to be willing to listen to His instructions and follow His guidance so we can get the help He is constantly offering us all!
Points to Ponder:
How many thing did you do wrong this last week?
How far did you wander away from God?
June 14: Psalm 78:1-4
Key Verse: Psalm 78:2
I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered how you could convince someone God is real? When I started out in ministry I think that was my biggest fear – how do I convince these young people God is real when they are so materialistic and cannot seem to separate themselves from the world and all its scientific wonders! I think the best way I can answer this question is by asking another question of you: what made you change your mind about God?
Sometimes we look in all the wrong places when we want to get something done, none more so that when we want to be able to tell people about God, you know, that unseen being who made everything and is made up of three parts which are the same, but different…
Jesus spent much of His ministry telling parables. He did not stand there and try to justify God or convince people unless called upon to do so – most of the time He was telling stories so the people could relate to the idea God is real. Those parables allowed people to see the difference between the world and God and allowed people to want to find out more. You see, our task is not to convince people God is real but to open their hearts to the idea He is real.
Once people start asking within themselves, God through the Holy Spirit will be able to convince them of the truth. Just like in a court of law, the attorney tries to open the jurors minds that there are possibilities they have not heard of yet. They then expand on those ideas and give witness accounts to allow the jurors to make up their own minds about the innocence of the accused.
Points to Ponder:
What allowed you to see God is real?
What parable do you think you could tell people to open their minds to God being real?
June 13: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.
Devotion:
How many times have you asked someone for a definitive answer and they give you “well yes and now?” When we ask a question we do expect to have a definitive answer – i.e. it is going to be a firm “yes” or a firm “no” and not something which is a mixture of those answers. I come from a part of the world where it was common to hear the answer as being “yes but no” because that had become a part of our lives...
When you are asking a serious question the last thing you want to hear is an answer which is going to immediately contradict itself! Fortunately we don’t get those sorts of answers from God; we may not always like the answer He gives us because it may go against what we think we want to hear from Him, but we will always get an honest and truthful answer!
When people asked Jesus questions He answered them with the truth. When people were trying to trick Him into breaking the laws they had created, He either questioned them on their stance or He gave an honest answer which brought their law into question. When people tried to make a witch-hunt out of looking for Jesus, He would often turn the other way and leave them to fight amongst themselves rather than giving in to man's laws.
We should be aiming to be more like Christ and to give honest and truthful answers to everything. When we see people trying to entrap us by asking difficult questions we should not tell a ‘white lie’ to get out of it but to give an honest answer or question them on why they need to know. If they are expecting an honest answer should we not expect an honest answer from them too?
Points to Ponder:
Do you often give in with a white lie or two?
Will you try to give honest and open answers?