December 1: Matthew 15:29-37
Key Verse: Matthew 15:36
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
Devotion:
I have always looked at these verses which talk about the miracles Jesus did as just that, miracles! But after reading these verses again today, I started to see something more than just the miracle. I say ‘just the miracle’ but it is not just a miracle, it is extraordinary how much compassion Jesus had on the people and how He wanted God to show how much He cares for us…
Think about how Jesus was going about this for a minute. He started out by showing them love and healing those who needed healing and in turn blessing those around the people being healed. What better way for witnesses to be born than to see exactly what Jesus was doing to the people who they had come with – friends, family and those neighbours… they were the ones being healed and their family, friends and neighbours were the ones seeing it all happening right in front of them.
Even with the meagre offerings he had to start with, Jesus was able to expand on them into something remarkable. He started off by asking them to be obedient to His word. He asked them to sit down and wait on Him. He then took the meagre offerings and asked God to bless and multiply them for all to have enough.
He then broken the food into pieces and gave those pieces to the disciples; telling them to go out and give this bread to the people. Jesus was given a little food which He shared with the disciples who in turn shared it with the people until everyone had enough to eat. This is the same way He wants us to share the living bread – His Word – with others. He wants to give His Word to us and wants us to share that Word with others until we all have enough!
Points to Ponder:
Do you willingly take of Christ’s living bread?
Do you willingly give of Christ’s living bread?
November 30: Romans 10:12-15
Key Verse: Romans 10:14
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Devotion:
Paul was given the task of going out to tell the gentiles about Jesus and to give them the same opportunity the Jews were being given to get to know Jesus. Today the gospel is going out to everyone around the world, and every one of us is given the same chance at calling on the name of the Lord to be saved… Saved from what? Saved from the destination each one of us has chosen without knowing it…
Does it sound like a catch 22 situation to you? How can we be saved from something we don’t know we have got ourselves into unless someone tells us about the situation in the first place! This is why we are given the task of going out into the world and telling people about Jesus. He promised every one of us would get the chance at hearing about Him and each one would be given the choice to believe in Him or to reject Him. How are people going to know they have a choice until they are given the choice?
This is why Jesus gave out the call for everyone to go and tell someone else the gospel story. As we start heading toward Christmas time, we often get too caught up in the celebrations the world has put in place; we forget the real reason why we have Christmas. Our time is here now to step forward and tell someone else the true story of Christmas and to give people the choice we were given!
Not all the Jew made the right choice. Not all of us will make the right choice. But we do need to be given the right to make that choice by being told the truth. We made our choices because someone spent time telling us about our choice. Who are you going to tell the truth to this year?
Points to Ponder:
Will you spend time listening to the true Christmas Story?
Will you give someone a chance by telling them the true Christmas story this year?
November 29: Isaiah 2:1-5
Key Verse: Isaiah 2:4
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.
Devotion:
These verses tell of the promise coming true – the day when the people of Jerusalem are going to be living out the result of the promises they got from God; the day they see their promises for themselves. I don’t know if you have ever been able to experience a promise coming true in such a way as to give you more joy that you have had in a long time!
This time being talked about is a time when Jerusalem will prosper in many ways, not just a time when they will experience freedom, but a time when other nations are going to come to them for many reasons. When things go wrong in your life, where do you turn to? Is there a person, group or place where you can go and be guaranteed of getting the help you need? Most of us will not have that place where it is guaranteed, but most will have a place where we can be sure we will get some form of help!
The prophet is talking about a time when the Lord will be the one in charge, helping those who need help, guiding those who need guidance and supporting those who need support. This is going to be the time when people will realise God’s promises are true – but it will also be a time when many will come forward for help because they will realise the world has not given them what they need.
If we continue our walk close to God, then we will get the help, guidance and support we need to move forward. If we take heed of that help and guidance, the support we get will be so much more meaningful! We will be rejoicing in the Lord – or as the prophet writes, we will be walking in the light of the Lord!
Points to Ponder:
Where does you help and support come from?
Will you try to focus on what God is trying to do in your life?
November 28: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Key Verse: Jeremiah 33:14
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfil the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
Devotion:
Jeremiah had many dire prophecies which the people had every reason to be afraid of; they were facing a dire period during which the armies of Nebuchadnezzar were descending on Jerusalem and many people were going to be captive to the Babylonians. But these few verses show the people some hope, not for the immediate future which is most certainly death for many, but for the future when a Saviour is going to come!
How sure was Jeremiah? He bought a plot of land right before the Babylonians were invading; not because he had hope it may be safe on his own land, but as a demonstration of the hope for the future of the Judeans. This was like a demonstration by him for the people to see how sure the hope in the future was!
Just as Isaiah had prophesied, this prophecy was to say someone would come who was of the lineage of David. People must have been distraught during the Babylonian Exile because they saw the end of the Davidic dynasty – they thought it was the end of the line of David. But God’s promises are built on the truth which would eventually come out at the end of the time of exile.
These words are often hard to hear for us at this time of year, not just because we have much shorter days and winter is fast approaching, but because of the many losses people do face at this time of the year. But the hope these words give us can still give us hope for today too. We too are called to share words of hope at this time more than normal – we too need to give people hope of a good future with God!
Points to Ponder:
What hope do you find in your bible?
Will you share that hope with someone?