December 5: Luke 3:1-6
Key Verse: Luke 3:4
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
Devotion:
Have you ever been asked to do something for your church and refused because you didn’t think you could do it? The first time I was asked to do Christian youth work I doubted myself and said I didn’t think I could do it… but after a bit of encouragement I agreed to come along and take a few steps toward doing the work. Before too long I was in charge of the youth group and continued to do Christian youth work right up until I was admitted into hospital a couple of years ago.
I was scared I would not be able to live up to the name the previous youth leader had built up – I was thinking about me instead of thinking about what God was asking of me! The more we focus on what we can or cannot do, the more lost we become in our limitations and the less we will be able to do for God. But when we allow God to guide us and simply listen to what He is saying, our work for Him will be turned around and become what He wanted in the first place!
When John heard the calling, I’m sure he would have had doubts about what he could do, but he listened to God and obeyed his calling. God was not calling John to convert as many people to Christianity as he could. He was not asking John to be a pre-show before Jesus came on the scene! He was asking John to faithfully tell people the true gospel story.
Our task is not to do God’s work for Him. Our task is to listen to what God wants us to do and to faithfully obey God. He is asking us to prepare the way, not to build the roads, but to show people which direction the road is in. Our task is to guide people towards God so He can have the full attention of His people – not to make us the centre of attention or the hero… God alone is God!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get worried you cannot do God’s Work?
Have you tried showing people God instead?
December 4: Matthew 9:35-38
Key Verse: Matthew 9:37
Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Devotion:
I wonder if you have ever had to help out in an emergency or some sort of disaster? When you arrive on the scene it is a bit of a shock to see the scene, then the desperation of the people can be seen, then your feeling of helplessness sets in… Only when you start to do physical things, however small, do you start to see a change in circumstances and you finally see you can help!
I don’t wish disaster aid on anyone because it can be distressing, often taking a very special kind of person to help out when everything seems to pointless to start with. I could imagine this being the same feeling Jesus would have when going to some of these towns and villages where He would see the helpless crowds who needed so much. But, everywhere He went would be another new opportunity to do something, no matter how small!
I’m sure half the problem was seeing how helpless the disciples felt as well. He would see how they needed support to be able to help the people in the towns. He could see their desperate hearts. But Jesus’ way forward was not to give the disciples super-human strength to get through everything, but to remind them they needed help from others too.
As we step out to do what God wants us to do, we are going to face times when we will feel helpless and think we cannot do things as He wants us to. Those are the times when we need to step back and review how we are going about His work. Do we need to go forward in a different way, or do we need to ask for help? Often asking for help is difficult because we think we should be able to cope, but when we get local communities involved with God’s work, they will begin to see how rewarding it is...
Points to Ponder:
How much do you do for God in your community?
Will you be willing to help when asked?
December 3: Psalm 25:16-21
Key Verse: Psalm 25:18
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
Devotion:
How many times have you called out to God because you have been in trouble or some other distressing place? How many times have you found comfort in God when you have needed it most? I pity the people who do not know God and have nobody to turn to when their lives are being turned upside down or when they think the whole world seems to be against them? We have the Lord and we can get comfort and strength simply by calling out to Him at those times!
When we are lonely and afflicted, we can call out and He answers us in a special way; we don’t always know how to describe it, but we know it! When our hearts are heavy and we feel like the whole world is on our shoulders, we can call out to Him and get comfort and strength to carry on. We can often see the trouble and strife we cause by doing something wrong, something we have tried to hide from others or something which goes against God’s wishes.
When we call out to God in those times, He opens His arms just like the Father welcoming the prodigal son back home. No matter what we have done wrong, if we come back to God and call out for help knowing what we have done, He is faithful to answer us and to give us strength to do what is right!
We may feel overwhelmed by the number of people around us who are against us or against God, but He will always open our eyes to someone close by who is willing and able to help out. When we live our lives according to God’s ways, we will stand out as being different and people may work against us – not because they don’t like us, but because they look bad when compared to how we look in their eyes. Stand up for what is righteous and live in God’s comforting grip!
Points to Ponder:
Do you try to live God’s way?
Will you call out to Him for guidance instead of only calling out in desperation?
December 2: Matthew 7:21-27
Key Verse: Matthew 7:21
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Devotion:
How many times do you get carried away with doing one thing and totally forget about what you had planned to do instead? I know this happened to me yesterday as I sat down to update some software on my PC before writing the daily devotions… and got so engrossed in doing things on my PC I forgot to bring you the devotions on time! So I’m sitting here reflecting on things and getting onto the task I should have done yesterday!
How appropriate the verses I was directed to today! Here Jesus was talking to people and encouraging them to do things for God and not just talk about doing them… We need to keep our focus on God – not by talking about things but by doing things for God too. Yesterday, when in a group of people meeting during an Alpha session, I was reminded about this as well…
Our world is full of temptations which will take us away from being disciples and keep us firmly planted in the worldly ways instead. Jesus wants us to be better disciples for Him, but not just disciples who talk about things but disciples who step forward and do things. How many things have you put off during the last year because of circumstances which worry you or frighten you? I’m not talking about doing things which are foolish like ignoring Covid guidelines, but little things like helping behind the scenes or talking to someone who needs encouragement.
I know I say this a lot, but we don’t all have to stand up in front of congregations and shout out about God – otherwise who will be in the pews? God wants each of us to do what we can do, and to do it willingly for God. If we live our lives in such a way as to show people we are different from the world, we then get the opportunity to show them why we are different: because we have Christ in us!
Points to Ponder:
Do you sometimes procrastinate?
Will you step forward today and say yes to something you keep putting off?