November 6: Job 19:23-27
Key Verse: Job 19:24
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock for ever!
Devotion:
How do you think people are going to remember you? Have you written a book about what you have done? Have you recorded a daily vlog saying what you have been up to? Have you recorded what you have done so people will remember you? All these things will only get you remembered here on earth for the things you have done here… How do you think God is going to recall your works?
Job had more than any of us would normally be able to handle, and yet He continued to praise God and to glorify Him one way or another. Would we be able to do that if we were persecuted day in and day out?
Job realised his earthly life was going to be but a moment when compared to what lay ahead of Him in Heaven. He continued to believe and trust in God and knew in his heart he was destined to live out his immortal life in Heaven with God! He also knew Christ would come and be amongst us on earth… He knew this from his communion with God – not by reading the scriptures, because they had not been written down yet after all this book of the life of Job is believed to be the oldest out of ever account in our bibles!
Instead, Job knew this because God had impressed this upon him. This is the truth we have now got written down for us and what we can all get to believe in if we choose! But so many people still choose the earthly life instead of the spiritual life. They choose what they can see and physically feel because that makes more sense to them. If we spent the time meditating upon the words God gives us, we too would reach the same conclusion as Job, that our Saviour lives and we will get to spend eternity with Him!
Points to Ponder:
Who knows you like a book?
Will you try to live a life people will notice giving glory to God?
November 5: Luke 16:9-15
Key Verse: Luke 16:10
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Devotion:
How do you work out who to trust? Is it not by trusting a little first to see if the other person can be trusted first of all? We like to be able to trust people because it gives us confidence as well as giving them some confidence too. Jesus tried to tell the disciples how they could become more trustworthy and the answer was quite simple – start out by allowing people to trust in you a little and after a while of them being able to trust you, their trust will grow… as long as you continue to be trustworthy!
Jesus made sure He always told the truth to everyone so they would know they could always trust Him. He continues to make sure we know the truth and are able to trust in Him because He has always given us the truth – whether we want to listen to the truth is our choice!
If you want to be trusted by others you should also entrust them – make sure you do trust them and show them you do trust them. If people do feel like they are trusted by you, they are more likely to trust in you; it goes both ways!
Jesus gives us the choice. He trusts us to keep our word to Him and to others. He knows we will not be able to do this all the time, but He still trusts us! There is the start of where we should be headed if we want others to trust us. Start by trusting them too.
Points to Ponder:
Are you very trusting?
Are you trustworthy too?
November 4: Philippians 3:17-21
Key Verse: Philippians 3:19
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Devotion:
How many things have tempted you this week? How many things have you given in to, however small and insignificant they seem in the big picture of life? How many times have you been jealous or envious of someone else and their life choices? How many times have you thought it would be nice to have juts a little bit of what they have?
These are the type of thoughts which probably go through our heads most weeks; not necessarily the things we give in to or do, but thoughts we have in our lives. Each one of those thoughts poses a potential point of failure in our lives, or a point where we give in to temptation and have a little fun.
Is it little wonder then the apostle is telling the people of Philippi they need to focus on the Godly people and the righteous people instead of the people of this world. The more we look at things of the world, the more we open ourselves up to temptation and the things of this world. This does not mean we turn our backs on the world or ignore the people who live in worldly ways. How are they ever going to hear about God unless we open up the gospel to them in some way.
God wants us to be safe and secure, but He also wants us to step forward and share the truth with people. We can do both at the same time. We can be safe in His grip as well as stepping out and sharing the gospel with people who know nothing of the truth yet. Be the difference!
Points to Ponder:
Do you give in to temptations too easily?
Have you tried depending more on God?
November 3: Matthew 3:1-10
Key Verse: Matthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan.
Devotion:
The more I think about what John the Baptist was like, the more I get confused about him… I live in a world where I have clothes, shoes, a warm flat to live in… and yet John chose to live out in the desert next to the river so he would not be distracted by things in the cities… probably! You see, we don’t get to know the real reasons why John chose to live where he did other than he listened to God and obeyed Him!
What would your life be like if you stopped obeying the world and started obeying God? Mine would be a bit different to what it is now. Each time I have got close to the path God wants me to take, things go wrong with friends, family or my health. Each time I get a bit older and a bit more tired of fighting – but each time my resolve is stronger and I learn new ways of coping with life.
John must have learned how to live for God and how to share the gospel message. He learned how he could reach out to people and get them to turn away from the sin in their lives and when that happened he did not shy away from baptising people. There is nothing like a good baptism to show people the meaning of turning away from the old life and stepping into a new life with Christ.
Just how far we are willing to go will depend on our inner resolve and our willingness to listen to God’s instructions. Some of us will only just be able to do one thing for God whilst others will be able to live their lives very close to how God wants them to live. Each one of us has to make a choice to invite Christ into our lives so we can learn more from Him and care less about the world. It is a very different life!
Points to Ponder:
How hard do you hold on to the world?
Are you willing to let go of one more thing for Christ?