October 5: Ephesians 5:15-20
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Devotion:
When Jesus was amongst us on earth He continued to try and get us to understands how we should be willing to live, not as people who try to be the richest, wisest or most cunning... Jesus taught the disciples to be wise in Heavenly things by listening to Him and trying to understand what God's will was for them.
If we continue to try and live like He taught the disciples, then we have a good chance of getting things right. If we run off to try and learn from the world, then we are going to fall short of God's will and ways in our lives and end up doing more evil than we want to. It if not ok just to be good and to follow the law about everything because there are holes in our laws – this is how criminals get out of going to prison even when they are guilty!
God wants us to turn to His ways and to try to live our lives according to His ways. There is no way we can follow all the rules God gave the Israelites through Moses, because we all fall short of those rules at times during our lives. What God wants is for us to try to live for Him instead of living for the rules.
If we try to find out more about Him and try to live our lives according to Jesus' teachings, then we will get closer to living with God on earth. God cannot abide evil and will not accept it at all – but because Jesus paid for our evil on the cross, we have the choice to turn away from those evil ways and turn toward obeying Christ in our lives. Praising Him will become second nature when we walk closer to Him!
Points to Ponder:
How many mistakes have you made yesterday?
Will you try to draw closer to Christ today?
October 4: Hebrews 1:1-4
Key Verse: Hebrews 1:2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Devotion:
When Jesus wanted the Jews to understand more about Him, He sent the disciples to go and teach them the truth – not as missionaries, but as eye witnesses to what He did and what He promised to do in their future. Jesus did this for all of us and continues to be the Saviour we all need.
When God sent the prophets to teach the Jews, they accepted the word, but continued to fall short and get things wrong; they even turned their backs on the prophets and on God at times! This continues to be the case for all of us nowadays too – we hear the word, we listen and we try to obey, but we continue to get things wrong at times and we even walk away from God because we don't like what He is trying to teach us!
Jesus was not just an angel (I say 'just' with a pinch of salt because angels are very powerful beings) but was and is the Son of God – and so is equal to God in every respect. If we are willing to believe this truth and hold it dear to our hearts, He is just and faithful to make sure we are saved through all He has done for us on the cross.
Jesus is now in Heaven with God the Father – not ignoring us because He is 'up there' but listening out for us and even answering prayers we ask for in His name. He left behind the Holy Spirit who continues to try and guide us daily and seeks to continue teaching what Jesus was teaching. This comes straight from God! Be it God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, or any of His faithful servants who continue to pass on the word to us...
Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to God's servants?
Will you try to obey someone who passes on God's Word to you?
October 3: Mark 10:10-16
Key Verse: Mark 10:15
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Devotion:
It still amazes me how much people get caught up in life in ways they should not. I'm not saying this as a person who always does things right because I know I get things wrong all the time and I even get caught up in things I should not be in... But it still amazes me how we do get caught up in things!
The Pharisees were questioning Jesus about divorce and all things like this. They wanted to see what Jesus would say and if they could catch Him saying something which did not agree with the law, they would have something against Him. Jesus tells them it was because of the people they were given rules about divorce! In an ideal world, we would meet the right person and we would stay with them for the rest of our lives together and Jesus wanted them all to understand how much God wants us to stay in a relationship when we start one – but also how we should pick the right relationship to start with.
When the children were being brought to Him the disciples started trying to turn the adults away, telling them off for bringing the children to Jesus. His response was to rebuke them for what they were doing. He knew the hearts of the children were open to the truth and they had no guile in them at this stage!
It is the feelings we build up inside of us which break things down. We harbour feelings which we should be letting go of because they harden our hearts and build up resentment when we should be forgiving and moving on. When the disciples were sent out to do their thing, Jesus warned them to move on and forget about the people who rejected them. Children are very good at letting go of others who treat them badly and holding on to those who treat them well – should we not be following this example?
Points to Ponder:
Do you have any bad feelings you are holding on to?
Will you give them to God and move on to something new?
October 2: Luke 10:23-24
Key Verse: Luke 10:24
For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’
Devotion:
When I first because a Christian, I used to think how cool it would be to be able to see miracles and other wonders first-hand all the time... I even got a bit despondent when I had not seen anything for a long time! Instead of being like me back then, take these words and read them through a few times!
Jesus acknowledged the disciples had seen many things while they were with Him, but also told them many prophets and kings had not seen anything like this, but they still had faith and believed! Jesus knows how easily we can get led on and knows how easy it would be to show us a miracle so we would believe Him, but that would be a bit biased of Him to do so.
He wants us to make up our own minds, not by having the absolute physical proof shown to us at every opportunity, but by having faith He will do what He has said! He wants us to exercise this faith so we become strong in our belief and more able to stand up against the inevitable problems we will face in our lives.
Don't be worried you don't hear His voice physically all the time. Don't be put off by not seeing miracles. Don't allow the troubles of this world to weigh you down so you become cold in heart. Fill your life and your heart with God's love and have faith He is faithful and just to deliver on those promises – no matter what!
Points to Ponder:
Do you worry you are not seeing God?
Have patience and wait on God with faith!