April 25: Proverbs 15:28-30
Key Verse: Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Devotion:
If only there was a book or other reference we could turn to which would bring joy and peace to us every day… if you haven’t realised that reference is the bible then you need to have a proper sit down and think about what you are reading! These few verses from the book of proverbs remind us of the relationship we have with God.
We do not have a long-distance relationship where we get to see Him on very rare occasions, nor one where we are not on each others minds all the time; and it’s catching! When we are in a close relationship with Christ we tend to think about our actions and how we live because we know He is with us. Other people see this because we are different to how they may expect us to be if they are not in this same relationship too.
It is not that God does not want to be with the wicked people, rather the wicked people tend to stay away from God. He is waiting patiently for all people because Jesus died on that cross for all people. The more we realise how close He is, the more we tend to talk to Him and commune with Him through our daily living. This will not go unnoticed by others!
The more we act like Christ is with us the more other people notice and the more likely they are going to want to know why we live like we do. This supposes we are living a different life to the rest of the world! If we are living the same way as the rest of the world, then how are people every going to be introduced to the one who changed our lives!
Points to Ponder:
Do you live a different life to others?
Will you commune closer with God today?
April 24: Psalm 126:1-6
Key Verse: Psalm 126:1
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
Devotion:
Can you remember your dreams when you wake up? I can remember some but not others and its a varied mixture of good and bad dreams; but the dreams being talking about here are not dreams we have when we sleep, but the dreams and aspirations of people. When we think about the lives we could have if everything went right, those are our dreams and aspirations...
God looked after the people of Israel in many ways and restored them to the position of their dreams. They became a happy and content people who were living in a land of plenty just as God had promised. But it was not always so because they gave in to the temptations and walked away from living with God: How could He keep looking after them if they would not listen to them!
The same can be said about our modern lifestyles – as long as we are willing to listen to God and to obey Him, He can continue to give us all our needs and even spoil us with plenty things just like a parent would. But when we walk away from living wit God, then we make it more and more difficult for Him to help us. Yes, anything is possible for God, but why make it as difficult as possible!
When God can help us and spoil us, people notice and they want to know why we have what we have – the appearance of living in Hope, Joy and Peace is rather appealing to those who do not have it! God wants to reach out to everyone and we are the key to Him being able to reach out.
Points to Ponder:
What would you ideal lifestyle be?
How close would God be?
April 23: 1 Peter 1:13-23
Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Devotion:
Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if my generation was brought up in the same manner as children are nowadays. I see a very different culture but there is still the same undertones now as there were then – some children are obedient and others are not! I try not to judge people in how they bring up their children because I am not them and I do not know what life they lead behind closed doors – how can I make any decision on their behalf!
I have vivid memories of going for a walk in the evening with my parents and my grandmother and being told in no uncertain terms that children should be seen and not heard! This was not because they did not love us but because of peer pressure from society – this was the time of the day when people would sit out on their verandas and have a quiet drink…
Jesus was quite different in how He handled things because He did not give in to peer pressure but tried to make a difference wherever He went; not a bad influence but righteous acts which would please most people. I say most because there are some people who are inherently evil because they do not know any better – of course they will object!
Jesus wants us to be more accepting in our interactions with others, but also to uphold the truth and peace. He wants us to be more holy and less judgmental in everything we do… which can be very difficult at times! We need to be in constant memory of the lengths Christ went to bring that peace and truth and know we should be willing to go the extra mile to do the same!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think you are good?
What do you think God thinks of you – knowing He sees everything?
April 22: John 6:16-21
Key Verse: John 6:20
But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’
Devotion:
How many times have you heard something or read something and wondered, what have I missed, shouldn’t there be something more to this that what I have just witnessed? Too many times in our lives we look for the extraordinary instead of seeming the beauty and majesty in the ordinary!
Yes this was extraordinary that Jesus was walking toward them on the water in the middle of a storm – which in itself raises all manner of questions in my mind… But I want to focus on the ordinary here and not the extraordinary. The disciples were in this boat after a long day, probably very tired and just wanted to get where they were headed. They didn’t think too much about the weather to begin with because they were used to all weather!
What they missed was having Jesus with them when they got scared. The moment when they realised all was not well, they felt most alone. They wanted their protector, their Saviour to be with them to make it all alright again. And at that moment Jesus appeared across the water walking toward them. He knew the right moment to come to them and He did not leave them alone!
It is in our lives when we feel most alone or the moments when we realise we have nobody by our sides that Jesus is standing there. It is the moments when we cannot see a way out. It is when we think this could be the end. Those are the moments when we can depend on Christ – because He promised to be here with us, always. It’s that moment when you are alone in the house, everything is quiet; but Jesus is still there!
Points to Ponder:
When do you feel most vulnerable?
Do you know Christ is still there?