January 14: Mark 2:1-12
Key Verse: Mark 2:9
Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”?
Devotion:
Wherever Jesus went, He caused quite a stir! It was not that He was looking for trouble or caused trouble deliberately, but He did step on the toes of the people who thought they should be in charge of things. When people get a sense of power they tend to try and hold onto it no matter what! This greed is not something we are born with but something we learn from the world around us!
The teachers of the law who were gathered here where Jesus was were not here to get healed or to be blessed, they were ere to try and discredit Jesus in some way so they could keep on ‘being in charge!’ They wanted to keep what power and control they had because they enjoyed it. It gave them a sense of belonging and a sense of power which was enticing to them.
When we are confronted by something which sows doubt in our life, we try to avoid it or even prove it wrong so we can be right. If we have built up our life on things which are doubtful in any way, we should expect to be proven wrong at some time; but we don’t, we cling to what we have and try to cast everything else into doubt so we can continue in our world.
Even when faced with a miracle which happened right in front of them, the teachers of the law wanted to keep the ‘law’ they had built up because they were in control of it. They did not want to accept the truth even when they were shown it. We need to make sure we are always open to the truth – not just any gossip but the truth as it is backed up by the bible and the Holy Spirit.
Points to Ponder:
Do you have control of something in your life?
Are you willing to give control to God?
January 13: 1 Samuel 4:1-11
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 4:10
So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
Devotion:
As we ready through the Old Testament, we find so many references to the Ark of the Covenant and how it protected Israel and allowed them to win so many battles. We may even begin to think there was some extraordinary power which the Ark had – but it was not the Ark, but who was with the Ark. God!
When the prophets gave the words of the Lord to Israel, they had a choice to listen and obey, or to go their own way. When they went their own way, they would often fail. But when they listened to God’s instructions and obeyed, God would deliver them and allow them to succeed. This was one of those times which we don’t get a clear explanation. Eli was getting old and Samuel was now beginning to take on the role of the prophet who should bring the word of God to Israel.
Was it because Israel went up against the Philistines without the Ark to start with? Was it because the Philistines dug their heels in and fought like they had never fought before? We don’t get a clear explanation – and life is sometimes like that. Sometimes there does not seem to be a good reason for failure, but things fail. Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves and yet we still fail…
It is God alone who has ultimate control over things and He who will deliver us if He knows it is best. Sometimes we come up against unreasonable odds and we face the consequences of those odds. Sometimes we are affected by the same things as anyone else and have to face what we call unreasonable times. If we open our eyes, we will see the people around us facing the same odds and consequences. This, unfortunately, is life!
Points to Ponder:
Who do you blame when things go wrong?
Are you willing to listen to God even if it is going to be tough going?
January 12: Mark 1:29-31
Key Verse: Mark 1:31
So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
Devotion:
This is one of those passages in the bible which non-believers like to pick on pointing out they think we are all slaves to God. I have had people close to me tell me they believe we are using religion as a crutch; something I shrug off and try to show why I believe in Christ, which does not always work. So, I would like to try and show you another side to this story which shows love instead of desperation.
Simon and Andrew’s mother was sick in bed having a fever which was enough to keep her from anything she would normally want to do. As a parent I can say I have a compulsion to help my children because of the love which has grown between us. I go out of my way to help and support them when I can. I’m pretty sure Simon and Andrew’s mother would love to do something to not just support her children, but to show her love for any guest of theirs.
When Jesus went in to her, He held her hand and helped her to get up. If she had wanted to continue to be in bed, I’m sure she would have chosen to stay there. She chose to get up and do what she liked doing – loving and caring for her children and their guest! She had to take the first step of getting up when Jesus helped her. Jesus was showing He was willing, she was showing she was willing!
So if someone tells you you are using religion as a crutch, respond to them by telling them you are not religious. Then tell them you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, not because He is controlling you, but because you want to share the love He first showed you with anyone around you, including them. If they don’t agree, you have at least sown a seed in their hearts which Christ can cultivate when the time is right!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like helping others?
Will you help them by sharing Christ’s love?
January 11: Mark 1:21-28
Key Verse: Mark 1:27
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.’
Devotion:
When Jesus started to teach others on this Sabbath, people were amazed at how much He knew, but also how He spoke with uttermost authority. What made it sound like He was speaking with authority? When we go to school and learn from our teachers, they need to speak with authority for you to believe them and trust in them. Teachers have spent a long time learning and now they are sharing what they have learned with others… but still there can be doubt sometimes.
When there is doubt in a teachers voice, we hear it and we find it hard to come to terms with what they are saying. This is not just something we learn from hearing lots of teachers, but something God has made us with from the beginning. When we hear the truth spoken with authority, we believe it and we know it is true.
Jesus knew exactly what was meant by the scriptures because He got it straight from God the Father. He listened obediently to His Father and spoke what He knew to be the truth. This is why the people around Him knew it was the truth – not because they had heard it all before, but because this man spoke in such a way they were convinced by the words.
If we put our faith and trust in Christ, He will allow us to speak to others with authority. I was never good at getting up and speaking to others in class or in University. It was something I had to get used to – even then I had doubts and those doubts could be heard by others when I spoke. When I accepted Christ as my Saviour and teacher, I began to understand things from the scripture in ways I had never known before. This gives me the authority to tell others what I hear through the Bible.
Points to Ponder:
When do you learn from the scriptures?
Do you obey God and allow Him to teach you thoroughly?