December 29: Luke 2:25-35
Key Verse: Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
Devotion:
Simeon was a man who listened to God, obeyed Him and allowed his own life to be in accordance with God’s wishes. If only we could all say such a thing! The truth is we all get side-tracked and run off at a tangent when we get distracted by the world. It is during those times when we are most at danger and during those times we get things wrong in our lives. Who is to blame?
A lot of us will blame God for allowing things into our lives. Or we will blame other people for the things they do around us. Too few of us will stand up and take the blame squarely on the shoulders! We all have choices to make in life and those choices are what defines our lives…
Simeon waited patiently for God to open the right doors at the right time knowing God would keep His promises to him. This promise was how he would be able to see the Messiah before he died. Can you imagine the thoughts he would have had spinning round his head – what age would the Messiah be? Who would He be? What situation would make it possible for this to happen? Maybe that is why he always made sure he was around the temple…
If we continue to allow God to guide us in our lives we are assured of the best possible circumstances for our lives to be lived the way God wants them to be lived. We can also be assured the evil one will do whatever he can to trip us up so we doubt God and doubt His promises. If we can see past that, we should be able to see God more clearly!
Points to Ponder:
What things distract you in life?
Will you try to listen closer to God today?
December 28: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered why someone loves you? I’m not talking about being attracted to someone but that true lasting love which will continue with you all throughout your life… What is it which makes you love someone like that, or makes someone love you like that?
This all starts from God’s love for us. He created everything around us first just so we would have the perfect place to be created in. Everything about creation is perfect and useful; sometimes we struggle to see the usefulness of certain things in our lives, but everything has its use. We may look at animals and think they act on instinct rather than thinking about what they do – but many things in our lives are also done through instinct rather than thinking about things. Love is one of those things…
If we try to think about love and what makes us love, we soon get lost in all manner of thoughts and pretty soon we end up with nothing but stress to show for our wanderings! God doesn’t want us to understand the minutia of love and human feelings, but He does want us to exercise those feelings! As I was watching a series on Netflix (Korean because so many Western series are so crass) I began thinking of the feelings God allows us to have.
Feelings are not something to boast about, not something to raise Jealousy about, but something to exercise so our feelings become stronger and deeper. God wants us to be able to truly love people, not in a physical way but in a way where our feelings are exercised and expanded beyond our normal understanding. This is the beginning of the love He has for us!
Points to Ponder:
How do you react to love?
Will you allow God to expand your love for others?
December 26: Psalm 119:161-168
Key Verse: Psalm 119:165
Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Devotion:
… and breath ...
I’m sure many of you have had a rough day as you tried to make sure everything went according to plan, trying to please the whole family, trying to keep everyone smiling… whatever the chores and trials you may have had to face over the past few days, things just may be able to slow down a bit now after the Christmas rush is over!
As Christian we are going to have to face up to many trials in our lives, most of them because we live in a world where not everyone is a Christian and not everyone is going to “stick to the rules!” As we go out into the world we will face people who fight against us just because we say we are Christians. We are going to have to face wars and things we could never have imagined just because we are supposed to be the “good guys!”
Though the world will be against us and we may face seemingly insurmountable mountains, we can always find peace in Christ’s arms. It may sound a bit lame as you face something you could not have imagined, but trusting in Christ’s Word and keeping Him in the middle of your life will allow you to find comfort when everyone else is falling apart. I learned this when I was in hospital on a few occasions, most of all when a man on a bed opposite me was falling apart mentally and all I could do was pray because I was too ill to get up from bed. God can give you strength when you are at your weakest. God can give you peace when you are at wars with your own mind...
Points to Ponder:
Do you have trouble finding a quiet place?
Will you invite Christ to join you where you are to fill your place with quiet?
December 25: Isaiah 9:2-7
Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Devotion:
Hind-sight is always the best sight to have… but what about the people who lived during the times of the Old Testament, couldn’t they see their Messiah was going to come, be born to a virgin and be the Saviour of the world? It’s easy to look back and see the truth but when you are living during the times you get side-tracked by so many things in life!
This happens in all walks in life and we can rabbit on about how they should have known, but if we accept the truth and realise we are in the same boat now, we could move forward instead of being left behind!
My prayers and thoughts go out to all those people who are living in troubled areas or troubled times because they are the ones who will not be able to see the joy of Christmas because of all the things in their lives which are bashing at the door! We were in the same boat a couple of years back when my Dad passed away before Christmas – the only thing which kept us going was God’s Word and His great love for us. No matter what happened we could always see what God was doing in our lives…
I pray all are able to see God’s great love and rich blessings, especially during rough times. I pray God will continue to open people’s hearts to those who are in need or just need a shoulder to cry on. God is always with us and it is surprising how much we can gain from trusting Him during rough times.
Points to Ponder:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, prince of peace...
I pray you do see God’s love and have a love-filled Christmas x