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?
June 12: Matthew 5:1-12
Key Verse: Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Devotion:
When Jesus was teaching the disciples it was to prepare they to be the next disciple makers and not just to get them to teach people the gospel – the two must go hand in hand for without the actions the words may seem to be empty! Jesus wanted them to know how important it is to do the work on top of talking the talk...
The way Jesus described the blessed people should speak volumes to us and make us want to go out and bless others in the same way as Jesus wanted to bless others. This is the core of loving our neighbours. The people who need to be blessed are the people who are having the most difficult lives. Those who are rich and comfortable probably do not need as much support as those who are poor and in need. We need to be the people who stand up and offer our help because we are the children of God being spoken of here!
Jesus called people to take action and help the people who need it the most. The people who are not sick do not need to go to hospital, but the people who are sick may well need the help of the right people to make them better again. This is the same philosophy Jesus is teaching them here. The people who need to know about Christ the most are the people who are being hurt the most through the lives they are living.
Jesus wants us to have good lives which must entail others stepping up and helping when they can. Without the people who can help, we get stuck in ruts and go downhill, but with the people who can help we manage to get out of trouble and live a better life. The best we can hope for is to live a life with Christ at the centre where He will be able to give us the love and support at first hand!
Points to Ponder:
Who are the people who have helped you the most?
Are you willing to step forward and help someone in the name of Christ?
June 11: Job 29:11-16
Key Verse: Job 29:16
I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.
Devotion:
What does it mean to love your neighbour? Well, Job had a rough time as the evil one tried to get him to turn against God, but he never forgot what it was all about in his heart. Yes we give in to things in our lives and when the going gets too tough we ask for help or even give in, but that does not change our core beliefs; and this is what I see when I read Job’s final defence against the aggravation he was receiving on all fronts.
He turned back to examine himself to make sure he had not missed anything and in doing so remembered what he was doing for all of his neighbours. Those who knew him or met him would talk fondly of him and would commend him for the work he did, something I’m sure he took in his stride and played down. But it was to the people whom were directly affected by what he did his memories turned here.
The poor who cried out for help would be the ones he would target for help and support. Those orphans and families who had lost parents would be there on the list to help. Those who were reaching their end of life would praise him – so he must have been doing something for them too! The widows who were shunned by others would be helped by him. The disadvantaged would be supported wherever he could help…
It did not have to be friends or friends of friends before he would step forward and help, he stepped out and helped before people came to him asking for help. This is the righteousness he was talking about – the righteousness according to God’s standards and not to man’s standards. He chose to actively be active for the needy rather than waiting to see who falls before he stepped forward to help!
Points to Ponder:
Do you count yourself as a good person?
How often do you help the needy before they ask for help?
June 10: Mark 12:38-44
Key Verse: Mark 12:38
As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the market-places,
Devotion:
One of the things which stood out to Jesus during His ministry on earth was the way the teachers of the law did more than they were supposed to do, and not in a good way! As a church warden for our local church in the village I can be called on to do many things which people don’t normally think about, and there is more which we do over and above the things we are asked to do, but we aim to do it with the same love Jesus did things for His disciples and the people He came into contact with.
There are, unfortunately, some who take on positions in the church and abuse their position of authority. Jesus saw this happening and was teaching the disciples this may look like the right thing according to the law, but not according to God’s wishes. If we impose rules and regulations on the people we come into contact with which are not in line with Christ’s teachings, then we are no batter off that the teachers of the law Jesus is talking about here!
Jesus went out of His way to love and support those around Him. If we are not doing the same then we may be seen as falling short in God’s estimation! God wanted us to see what real love is about and taught us through what Jesus did during His ministry. The love we show through what we do for God is a measure which seems to have grey lines in our world!
We see people who make a show of putting money in the offering or make a show of doing things for the church and yet turn away from doing things to support the local community. On the other hand we see people who do everything they can to support others in the community but cannot afford to put much in the offering… Just as Jesus saw the true love they show, God sees what is in our hearts...
Points to Ponder:
Do you make a show of doing things for ‘God’?
Will you do more for Him in secret?