June 2: Act 23:6-11
Key Verse: Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’
Devotion:
When we read about all the things which happened to Paul, we should take great courage in knowing God is going to look after us in similar manner to these things. It did not mean Paul had a smooth and carefree life which was filled with joy. Paul went through many hardships and had to face many people who seemed to want to take him down and put him in prison all the time!
Paul was given insight into each situation. God made sure someone prompted Paul when he needed to be prompted. God made sure Paul knew what had to be done next – be it uncomfortable or hard – he knew what had to be done. Can you imagine what was going through his mind when he stood up and called himself a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees… He was going directly up against the Sadducees and siding with people who were trying to get rid of him!
With all the uproar, God picked a commander to make the next step. This is what God does – He picks people from the world around us and uses them to make a difference so we can continue to do what He wants us to do. The commander took Paul away from the crowd which seemed to be getting very boisterous and putting Paul’s well-being in danger!
After a night away from the warring crowds The Lord stood by Paul and told him what would have to be done next. Once we submit to God’s ways we will see how He draws closer to us so He can guide us better. God was now telling Paul he would have to face up to the Romans just as he had done here facing up the the Jews (Pharisees and Sadducees.) If we are willing to listen to God and obey Him, we may find our path forward is not with the people around us, but new pastures where we don’t know them!
Points to Ponder:
Are you listening to God?
Where is He leading you to go?
June 1: Acts 20:28-31
Key Verse: Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Devotion:
Do you know what it is to be a disciple? Being a disciple is not just following Jesus and learning everything you can from Him… Being a disciple means seeking Christ, learning, listening, obeying and then taking this new-found knowledge and love and sharing it with more people around you; encouraging them to find out more, learn, listen and obey. Being a disciple is an ongoing task which Christ is asking you to do and the Holy Spirit it guiding you to do.
Yes, you heard me right – the Holy Spirit is teaching you and guiding you. That means trying to listen out for and to the Holy Spirit. That still small voice which you know is the Spirit; not the loud shouting of the world around you or the savage wolves who are trying to hide the voice of the Spirit…
It is our task to look after the flock of the Shepherd – Jesus is our Shepherd and the flock belong to Him. We have been given the task to look after them. Sometimes that is going to be teaching and talking, sometimes it is going to be sitting by their sides. There will be times when you are just called to sit quietly close to them so they know God through your presence.
Sometimes it will be stepping forward to grab a hold of a hand reaching out for help; a hand which is clutching at anything they can reach. Jesus sends us to the right time and place when we listen so we can be there for the right person at the right time. They are going to be the next disciple in the chain of events.
Points to Ponder:
How often do you reach out to people in need?
Will you try to listen to the prompting of the Spirit to find out where He wants you?
May 31: Romans 12:9-16
Key Verse: Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.
Devotion:
One of the hardest things to hear is often someone telling you to be nice to someone who is horrible to you! But these are the words the disciples learned from Christ – to love one another above ourselves. Whilst we may find it hard to do so by ourselves, holding the Holy Spirit close and trusting Him will allow you to do things greater than by yourself.
Don’t think of all the horrible things they have done to you. Don’t worry about all the bad things you have to face in the future from them… Instead try to love them like Christ loves you! We have been sinning against God for a long time and yet He is able to put that aside and to love us no matter what! If we can live just a little more like Him, we will be able to love others!
Sharing your life and your blessings with others will allow them to see the love God has for you and for them too. This is the start we should aim for to give others the best opportunity to live with Christ too. If you see someone in need, then join them in their need and see if you can make a difference in their lives – it just may be what they have been waiting for to start their life with Christ.
I wish country and political leaders would take notice of these words – that they would put aside their pride and greed to live more like Christ and feel for others as Christ feels for them. Just because someone has had issues in their past, does not mean they will take it out on you – maybe they just need a smile to get through the day… you can be that smile!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you help others?
Will you think a bit more like Jesus and reach out to those in need?
May 30: John 16:29-33
Key Verse: John 16:32
‘A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
Devotion:
I wonder if you have been very committed to something in your life and never imagined you would ever give up – until you look back and realise you have given up! I’m quite certain the disciples would never have imagined they would give up on following Jesus, especially now they were coming to terms with Jesus being the Son of God, but Jesus was predicting what they would end up doing when He gave His life up on the cross.
God is the one who knows all things; He certainly knows what lies ahead for each of us even if we cannot figure our own lives out! Even if we try our hardest to follow and obey God, we will probably still fall short of the mark just as the disciples would end up doing. They were committed to Christ and yet when they faced what they though was an impossible position, they gave in and followed the world, going back to their old lifestyles and wondering what went wrong!
Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him. He knew it was an impossible position, but He continued going forward to make sure that set of events which were foretold would come to pass. This is because He knew God had this all planned out and He was going to follow and obey no matter what!
We are human like the disciples. Jesus was human too… but He was not going to let the world dictate what He did – He was going to allow God the Father dictate what would happen. We are going to have to face certain trouble in our lives because we live in this world full of trouble. Jesus had to face trouble because He was human too. What we do with that trouble will dictate what sort of people we are! Jesus made sure He followed God. That is our aim too!
Points to Ponder:
Do you give in to worldly things?
When was the last time you obeyed God instead of the world?