September 29: Hebrews 1:10-14

Key Verse: Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Devotion:
I think the Hebrew people had been caught up in worshipping anything which was greater than them in their own eyes, not necessarily at this time but throughout their history. God wanted them to know just how precious they were to Him and this is described in one way here by the apostle.

We could probably all think of a passage or verse where God lifts up Jesus or where people thought Jesus was lifting Himself up to the level of God since they are emotive sections of scripture. The apostle uses words here which are designed to make the Jews think about their own position and the position of being such as angels.

We know angels have been described in ways which can frighten us when we think of them, but this last verse should remind us just how much He loves us and what He has done to make sure we know He loves us! That is how special we are to God and why we need to worship God alone in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

All three parts have always been and will always be and will always love us no matter what we have done. If we are able to get that round our heads and to see how He has allowed angels to minister to us we should have no problem worshipping Him with everything we have!

Points to Ponder:
Do you begin to see how important you are to God?

Will you show Him how much He means to you?

September 28: Haggai 1:3-8

Key Verse: Haggai 1:4
‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’

Devotion:
One thing which does impress me is the authority by which the prophets were able to live by. God would speak to them through visions and dreams, or even audibly, instructing them in which way the people of Israel should be headed. How many of those people listened is what the problem was. But God knew the right place for the prophets to say things to get the biggest impact on the people as a whole.

God knows who the people are in any community who will lead others, not because they want to be leaders but because they are the people others respect and listen to. There are some who do all the shouting and talking but few people want to listen to them because they feel those people are doing it for themselves. God chooses people who do things selflessly for Him!

Haggai was instructed to tell a few truths to the people because they seemed to have grown very fond o their panelled houses rather than worrying about doing things for God. They were self promoting rather than lifting up the name of God! That is an easy trap to fall into!

Whatever we have in this world is because God has allowed it to be so. If we do not acknowledge God for allowing everything into our lives, then we are missing the point and others will begin to see us as empty vessels. We do have to look after what God gives us and part of that is the buildings He allows us to have for worshipping Him...

Points to Ponder:
How much do you do freely for your local church?

Are you willing to give a little more time and effort?

September 27: Luke 9:1-6

Key Verse: Luke 9:3
He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.

Devotion:
One of the things I have learned is to wait on God for instructions and when He does give me instructions, I should obey them and know He has already set the things in motion which will allow me to do whatever He is asking. Sometimes I get impatient and sometimes I am too slow to answer, but we get there eventually!

When Jesus sent the disciples out to continue the ministry He had started He told them to simply rely on God’s provision. When we, as Christians, say we should rely on God’s provision, it can come in many form and not just miraculous supplies of food or water. God knows where we should be going and He prepares the hearts of people ahead of us so they will be willing to help us make a difference.

God knows we cannot do much by ourselves, but He knows a team of people starting with the local community will make a big difference. If we go somewhere and show them we are self-sufficient and start trying to change things, people may get upset with us because we are changing the rules; but when we go in with nothing, they are willing to accept us and help us.

This is the love Jesus was trying to impress on the disciples when He told them the most important thing, besides loving God, is to love the people around us. God knows love makes a big difference and He wants to see His people joining hands and helping each other to make Christians communities: this is His church!

Points to Ponder:
Are you trying to tell people what to do?

Have you tried seeing what they would like to do?