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June 21: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Devotion:
Some of the expenses we face in life do seem to be unfair on the surface until you look into what those expenses go toward. Some of them seem like bargains until you dig a bit deeper to find out they fall short of the mark. There are always going to be people who try to get as much money as possible from you whilst doing a little as possible and others who do all they can for you and don’t seem to charge enough...
But as these words here remind us, it is not the how much or how often which matters but the sentiment behind the giving. God does not look at the bottom line and compare that with what He gives you in life; He looks at your heart and sees how much you are willing to give without complaint!
Whenever I read this part of scripture I am also reminded of the time when Jesus talked about giving what was due to Caesar and what was due to God. We should not mix these two up because the earthly laws and taxes do not have anything to do with what you give to God. Yes we do have to pay to maintain church buildings and meeting places, the supply of amenities, insurance and things like that, but they are necessary expenses for the world we live in. What you do and give to support others in the name of Christ is quite different.
We are fortunate enough to be able to run a ‘top-up shop’ in our church building which enables people to get the essentials for little or no cost so they can survive in this mixed-up financial crisis many are in. The people who run the shop give freely of their time and money to come and make sure others are catered for in the name of Christ. It’s not about the amount but about the love behind what we are doing!
Points to Ponder:
Do you keep strict records of what you give?
Are you willing to give what it takes?
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June 20: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:8
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
Devotion:
Do you ever wonder why people think of you the way they do? Have you ever asked yourself why someone thinks ill or good of you? It’s because people compare what you say and do with what others say and do! Each of us are prone to think differently of others than the person next to you because of our life differences and experiences; the more you get to experience life with others the more you get to know about people.
This can go well for someone who is introduced to another person who has only ever been exposed to good people because the other person may well think all people are alike and good. This can also go the wrong way for anyone being introduced to someone who has always been around bad people – their first assumption may well be everyone is bad including you!
When we get introduced to Christ and can see there is a very different way of life which is available to all, we should be more than willing to go out there and share the good news with everyone to allow them to see there is this good way of living! This is what happened to the apostle when he went to Macedonia where they embraced the gospel and immediately wanted to share it with everyone!
Don’t be confined by what you think you know of the world. Don’t be limited by what you can think of or by what you have experienced. Read your bible and see how much there is out there in the world and go and experience it yourself with God!
Points to Ponder:
Are you biased by you own life?
Will you embrace the gospel way?
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June 19: Matthew 5:38-42
Key Verse: Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
Devotion:
I have heard many people say the bible teaches you to allow others to run all over you – but that is not what these verses are actually saying. First off, I’m pretty sure it does not talk about encouraging other to have their way with you whether you are a Christian or not! If we look at the verses surrounding these it is all about how we should act toward others and not how we should give in to others all the time!
The world will teach you it is OK to retaliate when someone does something against you – again not what these verses are tell you. What we have, I’m sure, is an account of how we should act when people do have grievances against us or do things against us because they believe we deserve it…
God does not want us to react against others because they do something we don’t like. He does not teach us to hit someone because they hit you first. What He does teach us is to love our neighbours no matter what. Jesus went to the cross even while we were sinners working against Him. He did this to show us true love. When people did things against Him, He did not over-react or work to pay them back. He worked to show them real love and mercy.
If people do things against us, then we should be willing to try and show them the love of Christ, which may well involve turning the other cheek or giving them more than they demand; not giving them the right to do whatever they like to you! Jesus was always fair and just trying always to give people the truth. In the end He did give in and go to the cross to die, not because He wanted them to do whatever they liked, but to fulfil the scriptures and to pay for our sin debt.
Points to Ponder:
Do you stand up for yourself as a Christian?
Will you stand up for justice and share Christ’s love?
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June 18: Matthew 10:1-8
Key Verse: Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered why Jesus told the disciples to not go out to the Gentiles or Samaritans but rather to stay with the Jews? Do you think it was to only look out for His chosen race, or maybe there was something more to it? I don’t believe it was simply to make sure the Jews came first because they were the chosen race; I think it was more to build up a foundation for Christianity!
We can see how God chose Paul and other people to be missionaries going out into the rest of the world to spread the Gospel, so it can’t simply be to make sure the Jews came first. But, equally, the spreading of the Gospel has to have a starting point, one which has a sure foundation and many people to call on for support. I believe Jesus wanted a sure foundation of people who would always pray for support and train up more people who would go out into the world.
If we want to be able to send out missionaries to go and spread God’s Word, then we have to have a place they can call home where they will always get the support they need when they need it. Yes God is always going to be with them wherever they go, but having people who can send aid for earthly needs when needed is going to make sure the missionaries will be able to survive when the going gets tough!
We need to focus on the here and now to build up a core of people who are willing to pray and build up the local community so the outreach can be greater and more sustained. God wanted the disciples to see this and this is why people like Paul were able to go to all the countries knowing someone was watching their backs...
Points to Ponder:
Do you think God is calling you to do something?
Do you have people who are willing to pray and support your efforts?
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June 17: Matthew 5:33-37
Key Verse: Matthew 5:37
All you need to say is simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Devotion:
How many times have you been let down by someone who has sworn an oath to you only to break that oath under pressure or over time? Our society seems to be rife with people who are quite content with promising to do something and never getting round to doing it, often simply promising so they can gain some reward before breaking the promise. So, by reading this here we can see this is not something new – it may be there are more people willing to break promises, but it has been going on since time began!
God has seen this trait in humans forever because we are easily led away by evil thoughts planted by the original evil one and harvested just when we don’t want them to be! The devil continues to try and take us away from God by making us do things which we ought not to and then casting the seed of doubt in our minds so we turn away from God before we ask for His forgiveness.
The advice here is to not go there and make promises which you know there is a chance you will break in the future. Simply say you will try to do such and such or find another way of supporting the person you are going to make the promise to. Most of our promises are to support another person in one way or another, something which is righteous – unless it is taken away later!
We do like to attach our promises to either loved ones past or present or to God. But are we really thinking about the consequences when we do go back on our word; are we thinking about what that open up to our loved one or to the people we are promising. God shows us how important promises are and has always delivered on His promises; but He also knows our weaknesses and does not want us to be burdened by the consequences of broken promises...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you swear by an oath?
How often do you think of the consequences of said oaths?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?