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February 3: Mark 12:1-12
Key Verse: Mark 12:7
But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
Devotion:
We can look at these verses and be appalled at the way the people renting the vineyard are behaving, but when we look closely into our lives, we must draw parallels with our lives and God. The farmers who came to look after the vineyard may well have been doing a very good job at looking after the crops and the land, but what they were doing to the owner was simply not right!
God has asked us to live a life on this earth and has given us everything we need to live our lives – but what are we doing with those lives? Are we taking good care of them? Are we looking after them with a long term vision or with a short term goal to get the most out of them we can while we live? Too many people look at life as being a very limited resource and do what they like to either enjoy life or to build up riches so they can enjoy their later years in life…
But what is going to happen when God sends a visitor to us to see how we are doing and to ask us to show Him some of the fruit we should be growing? Are we going to be like these farmers and send God’s servants away or even kill them? Are we going to listen to who they are and show them the respect they are due? Are we going to plot against God just as these farmers plotted against the vineyard owner?
I think many of us would try and say we would do the right thing and we would show God’s servants due respect… but when we go into the world and work for God, we see very quickly how many people do not have any respect for us and for God. People do compare very well with the farmers in this passage! That does not give us the right to act like them or to live our lives our own ways. We have a duty to God to listen to Him and live according to His wishes. He is going to give us space to do our own thing – but what we do should be in line with what He planned for in the beginning!
Points to Ponder:
Do you live life to the full?
Where is God in your life?
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February 2: Micah 3:9-12
Key Verse: Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Devotion:
When religion takes over, God is not left with a lot of choice but to allow religion to run its course and receive what it deserves… We are supposed to be in a relationship with God and not following rules and regulations which no longer have a place with Him. Christ came to break the walls down and release us from having to do religion! We now have a relationship with Him through which we have direct access to God and all He has promised for us.
Micah was trying to point out to the people how they had gone away from the relationship model and were now caught up in worldly ways which were taking them away from God. When we follow this path we too get caught up in the ways of the world and not God’s ways; we should not expect anything less than Micah is saying will happen to the house of Israel here!
Don’t get me wrong – we do live in the age of grace where Christ has paid for our sins and continues to be our advocate defending us all the time, but when we take up worldly ways and use God as an excuse to do those worldly things, then we are not walking with Him… we are trying to drag Him along in our sinful ways!
Ours is not to make Christianity a business or use it for political gain, our goal should be to maintain a full and proper relationship with Christ. Ours is not to judge others but to include them in what we do so the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts and bring them into the relationship we should have with Christ. Ours is not to profit from being Godly but to share with people who are in need, showing them the love of Christ can overcome all things. Ours is not to build up a congregation with our own promises but to show other people the promises of God and how they can and do come true.
Points to Ponder:
Are you working for yourself or working with God?
I’ll ask that again; are you working for yourself or working with God?
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February 1: Ezekiel 26:1-6
Key Verse: Ezekiel 26:3
therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.
Devotion:
January is finally over – who else think January lasts far too long after all the goings on over Christmas and New Year? Today is the start of a new month and one of the references to the start of a new month is these verses from Ezekiel 26. Now there is some debate as to whether this references the correct month for us, but I’m going to take this one as happening during the 11th month of their calendar which is roughly January/February for us!
Tyre had declared the strongholds of Jerusalem as being broken down and they were free to walk into Jerusalem. But what they had not counted on is God’s promise to look after Jerusalem. Ezekiel received words from God to say Tyre was about to face all manner of problems because of them trying to fight Jerusalem – God’s city!
We have a promise God is going to watch over us and we need to be reminded by verses like these about how God continues to keep His promises even when we go astray or do things which do upset Him. God is faithful to keep those promises He has made to us and will make sure we are never taken from Him… but, as we see here, there may well be times when we face all manner of worldly things or people working against us – times when we are going to feel left out, run down, unprotected or beaten down. It is during those time we need to remember the promises of God and trust fully in them.
I know facing the end of January and beginning of a new month is nothing like having to face what the people in Jerusalem may have been facing, but it is not always about the things we see but those unseen problems we face. Our problems are not always on full view for everyone to see because we hide them and try to carry on regardless. We must understand God is with us in Christ and The Holy Spirit every day of our lives! We must understand He has promised to keep us and we need to depend fully on that promise! Don’t worry what is going to happen to those who work against us but focus on God instead.
Points to Ponder:
Have you been facing a rough month?
Will you stand up and remember the promises of God?
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January 31: Galatians 5:19-26
Key Verse: Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Devotion:
As we round off the first month of the year we round off our walk with Christ in these verses. I guess we all do know what the ways of the world are – if not then we must have our heads buried deep under ground! But how many of us can recount the fruits of the spirit as given in these verses? With my youth work I learned a couple of songs about the fruits of the spirit and cannot help singing the fruits in my mind when anyone asks!
Sometimes that is what we all need in our lives; a song which will bring the words of the Lord back to us and allow us to focus on them, celebrating them with Christ in worship. There are some amazing words in the old hymnals we have spread through our churches, but there are also many modern songs which also pick up on the words in our bibles and allow us to remember them just as well. I love singing both modern worship songs as well as hymns from our past – because they all help me to remember God’s words and draw me closer to God in my daily walk.
There are many worldly laws against the ways of the world: sexual immorality, hatred etc, but there are no laws which prevent us from showing and sharing the fruits of the spirit. Showing and sharing love is listed first because it is so important; Jesus made sure we knew that too. The list ends with gentleness and self-control being the focus on ourselves and through which we can work toward love.
We live with the Holy Spirit and to get the most out of this life with Him, we need to make sure we walk in step with Him! I saw a wonderful film clip recently of some young people trying to march or walk in step with each other from when I was a child (back in the 70s!) It takes practice to be able to walk in step with others, especially when you are the one trying to keep in step with them. But through practice, we get better at it and become an example through which others can be encouraged. Practice walking with the Spirit and you will be that example too.
Points to Ponder:
What is your lifestyle like?
Will you try and walk in step with the Holy Spirit in February?
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January 30: 2 Corinthians 12:19-21
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Devotion:
I wonder whether God has placed something on your heart and you have not yet taken up the challenge… I found myself in this position a few years back when I was “between youth jobs”. I knew God had plans for me, but had not listened to find out what and where. So why have I picked these verses for a question like this?
Many times in our lives we shy away from having to do something because we think it is going to be hard work or something we are not going to be able to cope with; but when God is calling you to do something, you need to be listening to Him because it is the best thing for you to be doing. It may well seem like hard work and it may seem like you are about to walk into a storm because of the people you are being called to go to – but when you get there are knuckle down to what God has called you to do, it all starts to make sense!
Yes, it may well be hard work. Yes, there may well be times you have to berate people for what they are doing. But unless you are going to do that, just maybe those people will not be able to fully grasp what God has in store for them. I love seeing people admit to the fact we are shining lights in a dark world; the darkness cannot stop us because as soon as light enters into the space, darkness is no more!
Do not be put off by the actions of others. Do not be put off by the lives others live. If God is calling you to witness to such people, He is also going to lift you up and protect you in your calling. You do not have to join in with the lifestyle of the people around you – in fact you need to ensure you are that shining light others will be able to count on. Be the example God has called you to be; but don’t go in and think you are better than the people around you! God has called you to be a witness to them and an example through which they will be encouraged, giving them hope.
Points to Ponder:
What has God called you to be?
Will you submit fully to God’s will for your life?
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January 29: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:2
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
Devotion:
I don’t think any of us like to confront people with what they are doing wrong just as Paul did not like having to confront the Corinthians – but, he was willing to do so to stop them following the ways of the world! The more people live in the ways of the world, the more they are willing to push their ways and the ways of the world instead up upholding God’s ways. Just like the passage yesterday, we need to remember we are working against spiritual powers and need God’s power and wisdom to bring us through and allow us to promote gospel ways!
I wonder how many times teachers had to (or have to) tell you off because of the things you did (or do) in class which are not right! The way the teachers used to stop us from doing things wrong was with a cane – the ways teachers do this now are very different; but they are still ways of the world and not the way Christians should be doing things.
Christ calls us to uphold the gospel and promote the gospel to encourage others on the right path and not to constantly punish people when they step off the path He has described in our lives! The weapons we should be using are not the canes from long ago, nor the exclusions and others ways of the world today but rather we have the divine power of God through which we can accomplish so much more.
Don’t limit your ways to the ways of the world but rather allow God to use His ways and His powers to overcome the worldly and spiritual powers we work against. It is said that a single voice cannot do much, but multiple voices can do so much more; I put it to you that a single voice backed up by the most powerful and wise voice in our world can do immeasurably more than we can imagine! This means obeying God and trusting more to Him than we do now...
Points to Ponder:
How strong do you think you are?
Will you give your battles to God to win the wars?
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January 28: Ephesians 6:10-17
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Devotion:
One of the greatest things I love about being a child of God is the protection He offers us each and every day of our lives with Him. But just as we do obtain protection from Him, we also need to make sure we have the best protection available: this means putting on the full armour of God. Our armed forces dress appropriately for battle wearing protective gear against being shot and also carrying weapons they can use when required.
Our struggle, as mentioned here in there verses, is not will other armies or people, but with rulers, authorities and the powers of this dark world. For these we have to be prepared to fight back against injustice and wrong-doings. But we also fight against spiritual forces for which we have no real powers by ourselves; through Christ and the Holy Spirit we have the ability to fight these forces.
But what use is the best weapon going to be unless we know how to use it or how to deploy it? We could have the very best the world has to offer, and we know we have the very best God has to offer, but if we do not know how to use this protection and these weapons, we may as well be running into battle with our bare hands – not the best thing to do!
God wants us to be truthful and inform people about the gospel message to start the war against evil. Then we need to listen to the guidance from the Holy Spirit as He tries to guide us in the best possible way forward. Don’t back down when people argue about the gospel; stick to the truth and stand firm in that truth. We may not be able to see tangible evidence of the power God can yield through us, so we need to have faith it is there and faith it will deliver us in all circumstances. The evil one is going to use circumstances around us to make us doubt – don’t believe him! Christ has promised us this all; take it in faith and firmly believe it!
Points to Ponder:
Do you have doubts about your faith?
God does not doubt His power or His faith?
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January 27: Ephesians 4:29-32
Key Verse: Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Devotion:
Depending on your background and where you were brought up, this may be a hard thing to do – to stop the bad language, bitterness, rage, fighting and other things which do not build up others. In boarding school we learned to talk one way in front of the teachers or parents and another way entirely in front of others students. Having someone point this out when I was in boarding school would probably have not changed the way I was talking and acting!
But when we start to study what is being said in these verses and other parts of our bible giving similar instructions, we find a very different way of life to how we probably have been brought up! The big point we should not miss out on is to not grieve or upset the Holy Spirit. Does that mean we just have to talk to God and the Holy Spirit like we would talk to parents and teachers? Far from it! The Holy Spirit is with us in every walk of our lives, listening and trying to guide us in the correct way of doing things for God.
When we start swearing, taking the Lord’s name in vain, putting down others or getting angry with people just because we are not getting our own way, we are upsetting the Holy Spirit with our words and actions. Don’t forget the Holy Spirit is part of God and God cannot and will not accept these sort of actions.
Have you ever been upset with people for the way they have acted toward you? Have you ever been pushed into a proverbial corner through other people’s actions in your life? This is what we are doing to the Holy Spirit when we do things God would not like in our lives; it is as if we are forcing Him into a corner in our lives where He cannot help us, guide us and keep us from harm...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you get angry?
How often do you grieve the Holy Spirit?
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January 26: Ephesians 1:11-14
Key Verse: Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Devotion:
I still find it remarkable how Christ made it possible for every one of us to be able to join God in heaven! The most amazing part of this being God, who knew of us before we knew Him, chose us to be the ones who would be given this amazing gift… because He already knew what decision we would make in our lives! Christ came to us, not to build Himself up, taking glory from God, but as a mere human who was willing to give all the glory to God.
This was God’s plan for us; Christ came to fulfil this plan. The Holy Spirit is with us to continue making it possible for us to achieve our destinations through Christ’s promise and for God’s glory. It’s mind boggling for us to try and get our heads around this all!
Do we have to understand it all before we can be with Christ? Certainly not! As long as we have heard the truth and choose to believe that truth, we have this amazing gift given to us which cannot and will not ever be take away from us! Christ sealed His promise the moment you chose to believe. Just like wax seals were put on letters to ensure the recipient knew it had not been interfered with, Christ’s seal stays with us as we are presented to God as new beings, not interfered with by the world.
How can He do this? Ours is not to try and figure out the logistics of the whole operation but to simply have faith in Christ knowing He will carry out His promise with us. The moment we believe, that seal is put on us… Yes we still live in the world and we do get up to all manner of things, both good and bad, but that seal remains!
Points to Ponder:
Do you ever doubt your life could ever be forgiven?
Will you simply have faith that Christ has put His seal on you?
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January 25: Ephesians 1:3-10
Key Verse: Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Devotion:
The first thing the writer acknowledges in this letter to the Ephesians is that God has chosen us to be His people and has given us the freedom of joining Him in heaven because of his grace shown to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He made this all known to us because of His great love toward us, a love which covered our sins and continues to envelop each one of us.
It was not down to the timing of people whether they be kings and queens or the very poorest in society; the timing was God’s to make according to His infinite wisdom which has been displayed to us time and time again. Even though we have so many stories in our bibles which show us God’s perfect timing according to His perfect wisdom, we still try to impose our own lack of wisdom on God!
God has done this all so we can be together in unity in heaven. This means leaving our ways and our wants behind to be as one people under God. How long will it take before people all round the world give in to allow God to show us His power and strength? Will it be like the Assyrian army in yesterdays passage where thousands had to die before they believed the truth; will we too wait until it is too late?
God wants us to see and believe the truth whilst we are alive and living in this world, not to suddenly be faced with the truth after it is too late! God wants us all to be together in heaven – yet we still choose our differing and divergent ways.
My prayer for today is we bring Christ’s light to the people around us; that we allow many more people to see the truth which is in Christ Jesus before it is too late for them. We cannot be like the zealous Jew Saul was before his conversion, but we can be like the renewed Paul who was willing to show thousands the gospel story so they had the chance to make their own informed decisions!
Points to Ponder:
How did you get to know Jesus?
Will you tell someone today how you got to know Christ?