November 28: Matthew 8:5-11

Key Verse: Matthew 8:8
The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Devotion:
There are some parables in our bibles which are both simple and short but offer a very deep insight into faith and belief. This is one of them and is told in a few places by the disciples. I like Matthews account because he records the Lord as asking the centurion if he wants Him to come and visit the servant (knowing full well what the answer is going to be anyway.)

I have shown how we often have to ask multiple times in prayer, not so God will eventually hear us, but so we understand it is our asking which God answers – asking which is in earnest, humble and repetitive. God wants us to understand it is our faith which will move mountains and not just a single prayer thrown up to get something we want at the time!

This is along the same lines because Jesus is showing the centurion it is his own faith which is going to get the servant healed and not the fact he is a centurion, Jew or whatever! This prayer is being answered because the centurion showed absolute faith in Christ. He knew whatever Jesus commanded would get done because that is what he was used to as well – being a centurion in the Roman army!

Don’t base your faith on what people have said before you. Don’t base it on what others tell you to do. Base your faith squarely on Christ being the cornerstone of your life; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the “I am” and with whom nothing is impossible. Trust Christ to do what He has said He would do!

Points to Ponder:
Do you give Christ the authority?

Will you show more faith by giving Christ authority?

November 27: Romans 13:11-14

Key Verse: Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.

Devotion:
How many times have you got tired of waiting for someone to show up after they told you they would? How many times have you been surprised when someone showed up earlier than you thought they would? Have you had a sleepless night, tossed and turned because you were thinking of something, and then finally dropped off to sleep maybe an hour before the alarm goes off? All of these happen because we don’t know the exact time everything is going to happen – people let you down, things happen which let you down… this is what life is all about, coping with unexpected things.

We have been told many times that Jesus will return. We have also been told we will not know when He is going to return. We have also been told we should make our lives ready so we are ready for His return. One day that time will be here… will you be ready?

We can look at the world around us and think how easy it would be to get involved with the things happening close to us. We can think along the lines of “it won’t really matter if I do this one thing wrong because I’ll do it right again tomorrow.” But what happens if the Lord returns today just after you have made the decision to go off and be worldly in your life – what happens if He returns on the day you turn your back on Him?

This is why Jesus tried to make sure the Disciples understood how important it was to be ready at all times. Jesus told parables which reminded the disciples of the importance of being ready. He warned them to their faces He would return at an undetermined time… but people still think it is ok to go off and do something today because He might not return today...

Points to Ponder:
How ready are you to go off and try something worldly?

How ready are you for Christ’s return?

November 26: Luke 21:34-36

Key Verse: Luke 21:34
Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

Devotion:
Have you noticed how easy it is to give in to the world and all the things going on around you? Even when you think you are strong enough to avoid the temptations you find yourself in the middle of things before you know it! The world around us is full of people who want to do their own thing and not want to have to listen to authorities, and seeing them go their own way and do their own thing  makes you think it is safe to follow them...

God warned the people of Israel about getting involved with the locals because He knew they would be tempted to follow the ways the locals were going – and those ways were not following Gods ways! Jesus warned the disciples of similar things because He too could see the disciples giving in to the local ways.

We now have these words written in our bibles to continue to remind us of the temptations which we don’t see coming. Jesus wants us to follow His ways and the most simple way of starting out on that path is to read your bibles and commune with God every day – that means stopping doing what the world around you is doing and having a good and honest talk with God!

The way is described here as being vigilant by watching what is actually going on – comparing it with Gods ways so you don’t run off in the wrong direction. Praying all the time – talking with God and listening too! If you feel overwhelmed at all then its way past time you had a chat with God!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you commune with God?

How often do you commune with the world?