Saturday 15 June 2024

DJ

Jun 15: Matthew 5:33-37

Key Verse: Matthew 5:36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Devotion:
I wonder, how many times have you sworn an oath to do something only to find out you have to go back and apologise because you cannot complete the task for some reason. Jesus did not go round telling people He would do things and swearing to do so by oaths, He simply said He would do things and He did them!

This is the example we should be living by, not saying we will do things which we find out we cannot, but saying we can try or we will do our best. This is all God asks of us, to do our best for Him. This same example should be done for everyone we meet too, not saying one thing and doing another, but saying what we can try to achieve and doing our best to do what we can.

A promise should be kept as a promise – this is what makes it a promise. People get to know us through what we say and what we do. If we do no complete the tasks we say we will, we get to be known as a person who does not complete the tasks. This is not the image we should have as Christians because we should be trying to be more like Christ and less like the world!

Jesus was known as a man who would do what He said & as many people got to know from experience with Him, He always did what He said He would do. This can be a tough act to follow because we are limited in what we can do as humans, but we can tell people the truth and allow them to make choices based on what we tell them – this would make for a much better world all round!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you have to go back on your word?

How often do you trust what Christ has said?

Friday 14 June 2024

DJ

Jun 14: 1 Kings 19:9-16

Key Verse: 1 Kings 19:16
Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

Devotion:
Sometimes God just needs you to take a step back and wait for a bit… We get caught up in doing what we think God wants and we get caught up in all the ‘good’ things we can do to try and convince people God cares for them… Sometimes God wants us to stop and wait for the right moment before He gives us instructions for what comes next.

Elijah got to thinking the world was working against him because he was alone in standing up for God. We may well be feeling like that nowadays with the world carrying on as if God does not exist, fighting and doing terrible things to each other just to try and make sure they get the best from life without a care for others.

Whilst we can show people a new side of life by living the life God wants us to live, we can get caught up in living through things without listening to what God needs us to be doing. When we do that, we may find we seem to be fighting a fight alone like Elijah was feeling during this time.

What we need to take from these verses is the knowledge God does not leave us alone, even during the most dire times in our lives. What we do need to do is to try and listen to Him more and try to give Him more control in the plans we have in life. He alone knows what is truly best for us and He will guide us when we are willing to stop and listen...

Points to Ponder:
Do you get too caught up in life to listen to God?

Will you stop for a bit and just listen?

Thursday 13 June 2024

DJ

Jun 13: Matthew 5:20-26

Key Verse: Matthew 5:26
Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Devotion:
When you put your faith and trust in the judicial and tax systems, you have to put up with the consequences of doing anything wrong within those system. If you step out of line then you will have to pay the consequences according to the laws within those systems. The same can be said for the religious systems around the world…

I’m talking here of the religious rules and regulations and not the personal relationship we can have with Christ. The religions around the world have all manner of rules and regulations, and unless we are willing to stick by those rules and obey every single one of them, we will have to pay the consequences of going against those rules.

When we get to know Christ, however, we can see a whole new light on the way we live with God and with Christ. Jesus came to earth to live amongst us so He would be able to pay the price religion demands. He wanted to take on the punishment in our stead so we would be free to join Him in eternal life. He gave up His own life so we would not have to pay for all the things we have done wrong – this is His mercy and grace!

Religion shows no mercy, just rules and regulations – the same as the laws of the land we live in. People are the ones who show mercy and grace; but none so much as Christ showed to us those many years ago!

Points to Ponder:
Have you broken any rules and regulations lately?

Do you know Christ wants to forgive you for everything you have done against Him?

Wednesday 12 June 2024

DJ

Jun 12: Matthew 5:17-19

Key Verse: Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.

Devotion:
I despair at how many people in churches in the UK think more about the hierarchy of the church and the rules and regulations than the sharing of the gospel! I think Jesus made it very clear we are to share the gospel with everyone, not just by reading it, printing it or giving someone a bible, but by setting aside time to sit with someone and share what you know and what you feel about too.

Making the gospel an integral part of your life is what Jesus showed the disciples. He explained to them how we need to make sharing God a part of our existence so others will see how it needs to be an integral part of life. We should not be living two lives, one in church and one outside church. We should be living one life with Christ and for Christ!

We have been given all we need to make sure we can have an eternal life with Christ. Part of that must be to include others in this life. If we do not do this and care more about the rules and regulations, then we are nothing more that the scribe and Pharisees whom Jesus continued to point out their shortcomings.

I write all of this knowing full well there are times when I could do more and should do more; but being aware of our shortcomings is the first step of working toward overcoming those shortcomings. Burying our heads in the ways of the world instead does nothing for spreading an sharing the Gospel!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you identify places you could have done more?

Have you sat and thought about where you can do more lately?