September 4: Luke 6:1-5
Key Verse: Luke 6:3
Jesus answered them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Devotion:
Have you ever read passages like this in the bible and wondered why Jesus was not doing what the Old Testament law said? Why was He doing something which teachers of the law would question? It's not a case of reading between the lines and saying we can break certain laws nowadays because Jesus showed us we can, or trying to re-structure the law to fit in with what Jesus did instead of what the Old Testament scriptures said...
The answer is far simpler than this. Jesus showed compassion over and above what people would recognise. The Pharisees and other teachers of the law were teaching how people should always follow the law no matter how hard it was to do so. This would often mean people were being let down, rejected, refused and even punished because they had followed the law.
Jesus was teaching the disciples about love and mercy, two things which must be taken into account always. How else can we expect to love our neighbour if we are not going to follow the line of compassion? Jesus wanted the disciples to learn this so they would teach it to others as well.
David had shown compassion to his companions when they had nothing to eat, save what had already been offered as a sacrifice. He knew God would not refuse his companions a bite to eat even though the law deemed it not right to do so. This is the love he had learned from God and was trying to show his people – unfortunately he did not always get it right. And nor will we always get things right...
Points to Ponder:
Do you always follow the rules no matter what?
Are you willing to show love and mercy above and beyond?
September 3: Luke 5:33-35
Key Verse: Luke 5:34
Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?'
Devotion:
How many times have you felt guilty about missing church when you have gone to be with your family for a special occasion? I used to get up tight when I would miss out on a Sunday service because I felt guilty I was not doing what God wanted me to do – until someone pointed verses like these out to me!
God knows we live lives! That includes all the things which happen in normal lives (or even not so normal lives!) He wants us to live our lives to the full and that often means doing something earthly! Parties were part of life during the time Jesus was on earth and continue to be part of our lives. Jesus even went to parties for special occasions, and the last night was spent having a feast!
God wants us to be happy with what we have. It does not mean we should go out of our way to avoid church or avoid living... But we should take note of what we do at those parties, celebrations and whatnot! Just because He wants us to enjoy ourselves, should not mean going totally overboard with things, nor does it mean being totally minimalistic about everything. We have to find a balance with our earthly lives where we can still show people we love God!
When we are not celebrating birthdays, weddings and other special occasions, we should be reminding people we are Christians who chose to live for God and for His values. This will often mean we do things differently to the rest of our friends. It may even mean we do things differently to the rest of our family. Whatever you are going to do, take God with you and enjoy this life He is giving you!
Points to Ponder:
Do you avoid parties?
Will you celebrate your next party with a difference by taking God with you?
September 2: Luke 5:1-11
Key Verse: Luke 5:5
Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’
Devotion:
I wonder, have you ever been in a position like this where you have tried almost every way to do something and failed, when along comes some stranger and tells you to do something you have either tried, or something which sounds silly... only to find their way actually worked! I know I have turned down help from people before thinking that I know better, and on many occasions I have failed altogether because I refused to just try their way...
Jesus was teaching people, by telling them the truth and showing them how God's word (the scriptures) is as important then as it was in Moses' day. The same is true for us now, the bible being so important and true even though it depicts events many thousands of years ago. These are the stories Jesus was trying to explain to the people.
We look at the bible and we think it cannot be relevant because it is so old, but the truth is it is still as important now as it was back then. The ways we live and how we do things is definitely very different, so we have to think on the words we read. We drive cars, fly in aeroplanes and cross oceans in boats bigger than palaces were in those days... but God's Word is still relevant and true now...
If we are willing to listen to God and obey His wishes, we will find things come together in our lives. Not in the same way as they did thousands of years ago, but as they are now. Computers help us. Doctors have amazing skills now. Medicine should blow your mind! But God still wants us to hear the truth and to trust Him and obey.
Points to Ponder:
What great things happen today?
Do you thank God for those great things?
September 1: Proverbs 26:18-19
Key Verse: Proverbs 26:19
is one who deceives their neighbour and says, ‘I was only joking!’
Devotion:
How many times have you told a white lie to a friend, something which you thought would help or defend them in the long run? I know I have done this, and I also know I have been on the receiving end of the backlash when the other person found out the lie I told. If we really do want to help the people around us, we should stick to the truth because we don't have to continually cover up truths; they are the truth!
It is often a very hard decision to make when we are faced with having to tell a friend something they do not want to hear, or something which may hurt them; but when we are faced with the backlash and having to deal with the extra hurt and having to face our friend with all these new things, the small hurt in the beginning is a very small thing compared to the raft of deceit we would otherwise have to overcome.
God wants us to know the truth about Him, about the earth and about how we live. He made sure the right people got to know the truth so they would spread that truth to as many people as possible. God knew the path to take which would cause the least amount of hurt – the path of truth.
Let us follow the example given to us by God, by His prophets, by the disciples and, most importantly, by Jesus Himself. We need to stick with the truth and ensure we spread nothing but the truth. God will guide us when we are faced with the hurt of other people. Don't forget we are all His children and He will do what He can to make sure we have to face the least amount of hurt so we can experience the greatest amount of His love and peace!
Points to Ponder:
Do you try to comfort people with lies?
How many more lies have to follow those lies to keep those people comforted?