April 18: John 3:7-15
Key Verse: John 3:12
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
Devotion:
When Nicodemus met with Jesus it was not like most of the other leaders who tried to trip Jesus up so they could condemn Him for breaking the Jewish rules. Instead, Nicodemus came to learn more from Jesus because He knew there was more to this than just a person being a prophet or someone performing miracles. Nicodemus was searching for something but He was not sure what he was searching for!
This is much the same as most people when they are introduced to Jesus or Christianity. They see something which stirs their hearts and they want to find out more. As disciples we should be ready to answer questions in whatever way we can – even if it is telling people we don’t know the answer but we will try to find out!
Jesus wanted the leaders to know the truth but to also accept they would not know all the answers in the beginning; they would have to go and find out more by forming a deeper relationship with Christ. Jesus wants us to find faith through the unseen because that will give us more strength to face the unknown than being shown physical items. We question things because we want to know more – there is nothing wrong with questioning things if you are going to accept the truth when you are presented with it.
Nicodemus was willing to put aside what he had learned if the truth was going to be different from that – but he needed to understand things. This is the same process we will probably face when we are confronted by something which is unknown to us at the time. Believing is a personal choice to trust the source of information. Jesus has shown us He is the most reliable source of information we have – have faith.
Points to Ponder:
What does it take for you to believe?
Do you trust your most reliable source of information?
April 17: Acts 4:23-31
Key Verse: Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Devotion:
One things we see about the disciples is they were ready for everything which would get thrown against them after their walk with Jesus! On this occasion Peter and John had been arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin where they were warned against preaching about Jesus; they stood up to the Sanhedrin and said they could not back down from talking to people about what they had witnessed!
When they got back together with the others they prayed earnestly about what they had had to face even asking God why the world should come up against them and against God. I think the key point here once again in they took their fears and worries straight to God in prayer, not sitting down and worrying about things or putting things off for a while to see if they settled down – they took to prayer immediately.
This is the one thing I have learned about God – He listens to your prayers and answers them! If you are honest and up front with God in your prayers, He is going to reciprocate those prayers with honest and upfront answers too. God does not have to wait for the right moment to answer your prayers. He does not have to wait until you are on your knees under the weight of life. He does not have to wait for the priest to ask on your behalf… He is waiting and listening right now.
Now is the time to start your prayers and now is the time to be up front and honest in those prayers. God wants a closer relationship with you – that includes honesty and openness on both sides!
Points to Ponder:
How long do you wait before praying?
Will you try praying when you need to instead of waiting?
April 16: John 20:24-29
Key Verse: John 20:27
Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
Devotion:
When was the last time you were absolutely sure of something in your mind but when you had to face it you started to doubt? No matter how hard we try to hide our doubts, they will always show at some stage, normally at the most inappropriate moments!
Even though the disciples had been with Jesus all the time and had been taught as much as they needed to know, they still did not fully grasp the importance of the resurrection and when they were faced with it face to face, they had doubts it was real! This gospel tells us all who were present when Jesus appeared in their midst were overjoyed – but you can imagine the shock of Jesus suddenly appearing there! Thomas was not there and so doubted his fellow disciples were telling the truth…
A few days later Jesus again appeared in their locked house and Thomas was given the option to touch Him because Jesus could see the doubt in his soul: how could this be true when he saw Jesus die! Jesus knew how important it was for these chosen disciples to believe and have no doubts, this is why He came to visit them on more than one occasion after His resurrection. Thomas would travel far and wide for the rest of his life spreading the gospel as far as he could.
It is alright to have doubts in life, but if you have doubts about God then take those doubts to Him and He will give you a way of dispelling those doubts. For Thomas it was the invitation to touch Him after he appeared before him. For me it was hearing how other people had been affected by my prayers in ways which could not be explained by earthly means!
Points to Ponder:
Do you have doubts about God?
Have you admitted those doubts to Him yet?
April 15: Acts 4:13-21
Key Verse: Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
Devotion:
This is one of those contentious issues where things get taken out of context all the time and people start arguing with one another! You will get people in the church hierarchy calling for people to fall in line and obey the rules and you will get the eager rebellious folk storing up feelings within the church. What it should always come down to is “listen to God!”
The Sanhedrin were gathered together to stop Peter and John from causing crowds to gather and preaching and doing things in the name of Jesus Christ. Why, because they were too used to being in charge of the church and they did not want to let the people get control of things instead of them. They believed they were listening to God because of the law laid down by Moses so many years ago. They had changed a few things along the way to fit in with they lives, but they largely were following the scriptures.
The issue came when they would have to admit to Jesus being the Messiah. In their minds they had not seen enough proof He was the Messiah. Peter and John healed people who stood before them, but they did not want to believe this was because of Jesus; that would put the control of the church into Jesus’ hands and into the hands of the disciples in people’s eyes.
This still goes on today. Someone stands up and does something in the name of Christ and church leaders play it down or reject it because it did not come from someone who has trained for many years to be a priest or other leader. Whatever happens in the life of the church needs to be grounded in Christ’s teachings and following Christ’s ways – that is just one reason why God sent Jesus down, to teach us what is righteous.
Points to Ponder:
Do you stick to the religious rules?
Will you try listening closer to Jesus?