May 10: John 15:1-8

Key Verse: John 15:5
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Devotion:
I think this is a part of Christian life we come up against a lot of the time and a part we may think of as the opposition rather than helpers. Sometimes you are so sure you should be doing something you go off and do it trying to get support from all over the place to make sure it happens. Where we look for that support and the things we use to bolster our position may not be what God had in mind – so don’t be too surprised if they fail to make the point you thought they should!

If we are willing to really stop and listen to God, then we will be able to do much more than if we go it alone or with earthly help and assistance. As the disciples were learning this from Christ they would have also seen and known how successful the Pharisees had been and may have wanted to do things that way instead. But Jesus kept them following the truth, God’s Word, and kept them from tainting their message with earthly ways and methods.

There is going to be a time when it is too late to pass on the truth. Too late to ask Jesus to forgive you. Too late to share the gospel… But that time will only be after we join Christ in Heaven; until they day we should be facing the opposition with the truth, asking for forgiveness, listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying God in all we say and do.

When we ask Jesus into our lives we are asking to be a part of God’s family. As such we should be doing things differently from our old earthly ways and doing what our Father in heaven is asking us to do. This means listening out for Him and obeying Him. This is what it means to be part of His family.

Points to Ponder:
What have you tried lately to get people into church with?

Have you tried the truth?

May 9: Acts 14:19-28

Key Verse: Acts 14:23
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Devotion:
Forgive me if this comes to you later than normal, I have been downed with a migraine for a while. I read through this passage and wondered what it was the Lord should have me write – probably because my head is still not quite there too. After reading it a couple of times I realised it was about persistence; Paul and Barnabas were on a mission for God and they were not going to back down!

When the Jews heard about them teaching people about Jesus, they put together a posse which came to reaffirm their grip on the people. I say posse because of what they wanted to do to Paul. They took him outside the city walls and tried to stone him to death because of the work he was doing. There have been times I wanted to get rid of some people for disrupting the work I have been doing, but never to go as far as they did.

The truth should be what wins all the time. Paul and Barnabas were trying to get people to understand there is hope in the truth and the only way to get to be with God in Heaven is through His Son Jesus Christ. This is the truth which Jesus Himself had tried to teach the disciples and all who would listen through persistently telling the truth to them.

As we step forward to work with God we have got to uphold the truth which He gives us and continue to give that truth to people no matter what opposition we come up against. Sometimes you do have to leave the area and wait for the dust to settle before coming back, and other times you have to stand up and continue reaffirming the truth whilst facing that opposition. Listen to what God wants you to do and try hard to obey Him.

Points to Ponder:
Do you get opposition for doing God’s Work?

Do you wait for God to guide you forward?

May 8: Acts 14:8-18

Key Verse: Acts 14:12
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.

Devotion:
How many times have you been complimented this past week? How many of those times did you feel good? How many of those times did you take advantage of being complimented and ask for something in return? How far did you go? There is nothing quite like asking leading questions!

One of the unfortunate parts of being a good Christian is people will lift you up into positions you probably do not deserve and sometimes should not be tempted by; but it happens! We all do like to be complimented because it does make us feel better about ourselves – much better than being berated for doing something wrong! But what we do with compliments and how we allow them to affect our lives is what counts more than the compliments.

Paul and Barnabas fled to the Lycaonian city of Lystra because they were being persecuted and plots were being made against them because they dared to preach the Gospel. When Paul healed a lame man the crowd lifted both Paul and Barnabas to positions of gods – they did not quite get the idea there is only one God because they had always called upon many gods in their lifestyles before this. The priests of these gods wanted to come and offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas because of this miracle!

Both Paul and Barnabas tried to quell the hysteria by pleading with the people to accept them as mere human beings like everyone else, but the people had other ideas. Sometimes it seems like it is easier to allow people to think more highly of you than to admit you are just like them but God wants us to show others we are as human as all people – but we do try to be different because we want to follow God’s will rather than the habits of everyone else. Draw the line and keep the line!

Points to Ponder:
Do you see yourself as better than others?

What are the wages of sin?