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February 8: Genesis 2:8-16
Key Verse: Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Devotion:
One of the stumbling blocks I am always confronted with is “why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if He did not want man to eat the fruit from it?” Which, on the surface, seems like a valid point. But then the argument falls apart when you look at just about any situation in life. Why did man invent guns if they are used to kill people?
The answer is man invented the gun as a tool. Someone came along and used that tool to commit a bad sin. It is not the fault of the designer but the fault of the person committing the sin. The same can be said about the garden. God created a complete garden with everything in it. Man was the one who came along and decided to do something wrong; it is man's fault!
This is why we have laws in our societies. There are things which can be used for good and for evil. If we take something which could be used to good and use it for evil, then we are the ones committing the evil and not the tool which we use. God had no intention of making man do bad things – that was our choice and remains our choice.
Each of us has the ability to choose whether we do right or wrong. That is what defines us and sets the path of life before us. If we continue to choose the bad things in life then we are going to have to face those bad things time and time again. If we choose to do the good things, then we will face the good outcomes time and time again. Choose righteousness...
Points to Ponder:
Have you made bad choices in your life?
Will you ask Christ to forgive those bad choices?
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February 7: Genesis 1:27-28
Key Verse: Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’
Devotion:
One of the most remarkable things God did was to create us in His image… So what does that mean? Do we look exactly like God? No! We are all physically different, we have different finger prints and different iris patterns, different personalities and we just are different! So how did we get created in God’s image? Well, God is made up of three parts, and, not surprisingly, so are we.
We have our physical bodies; the ones which are different to look at and to do things with. Jesus was different too. He was nothing like the pictures we see where He is depicted as being a tall white male with long blonde hair and a shining white garment! He was a carpenter who was ‘one of us.’ Which means He looked like the people He was around. They knew Him to look like a Jew so we must assume He looked like many Jews we have go to see… So, not white and not blonde…
Then we have our spirits. These are the parts of us which are able to commune with God. These are the parts which we cannot see but we know are there. If we listen well enough we will be able to know that part of us better. This is the part of us which will be able to listen to what God has to say to us – the part of us we don’t often listen to in case we have to do something! You know, the part of us we know is there but like to ignore because it means being good!
Then we have our souls. This is the real you and the real me. What we are and what we have always been and what we will always be – the us inside of everything we are! Once again we cannot see the real us, but we know the real us because that is what comes out when we meet others and when we get on with life… The part of us which will always be around and will never go away!
Points to Ponder:
What part of you do you think of when you say “I”?
Are you willing to allow God to guide the real you through your spirit?
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February 6: Genesis 1:1-19
Key Verse: Genesis 1:11
Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.
Devotion:
The first chapter of the bible is one which people have debated upon for so long, and one which makes sense to some and not to others; but what we can all agree on is that it was something entirely new! How does one go about describing something which has never existed before?
I’m not going to argue about whether I think these words describe exactly what happened because I don’t quite get the words they use in the first few verses. It’s only when we get down to verse 11 where things begin to make some sort of sense because from then on it describes things which we can relate to.
This is one of the big problems we face as Christian. How do we go about describing something which is new to us… when we first became a Christian we could not describe what it was like and we would have problems trying to convince anyone about our new life. But the more we get to grow with God, the more He opens our hearts and minds to what he can do and the more familiar we become with His ways. I don’t think I will ever be able to understand the words of the first few verses of the bible until I get to meet Jesus face to face…
What we can do, though, is describe what we feel in our hearts to other people. When we describe what we actually feel, people will be more willing to listen and to try and find out for themselves. When we describe things like the first few verses of the bible, it bring confusion because we may be confused. So when you want to tell anyone about God, stick to what you know about Him – not all the big words and books say, but what you feel in your heart. That is what counts to Christ as well!
Points to Ponder:
Do you find it hard to explain God?
Have you tried simply saying what you feel about God?
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February 5: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:2
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Devotion:
One of the greatest things I was ever taught as a Christian was to admit to what you know… We don’t have to be scholars to be able to tell people about Christ; all we have to do is to know Him on some level. We may not be the greatest witness in our own minds, but to God we are the best witnesses if we are willing to share what we know, the way we know it.
When I started sharing what I know about God with teenagers in youth groups I did not know everything because I was still learning. I still am learning and will continue to try and learn more about God until the day I go to be with Him in heaven. But before I do I have plenty of time here on earth to try and share a bit of what I have grown to know about God.
A lot of what I know I have learned from reading His word, which is difficult for me because I am not a good reader, having failed English languages a few times even though my home language is supposed to be English! But that has not stopped me because He is always willing to help bring someone in to help me understand if I need it. Much of the time I now stop and try to listen to Him – He is always willing to teach anyone who is willing to listen.
Just like the apostle, I spend time sharing what I know. I have continued to write these devotionals for more than 2 decades, with a break here and there for hospital or other emergencies. God continues to help me understand His Word because I am willing to stop and listen. I read the words slowly because I can’t read fast, I try to understand, and then I trust Him to give me more words to write down and share my feelings… We can all do a little at a time and make a big difference in the world!
Points to Ponder:
Do you think you are good at something?
Have you tried including God in what you do?
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February 4: Psalm 23:1-6
Key Verse: Psalm 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Devotion:
Well it’s been a while since I shared Psalm 23, so it’s about time again. So many people do find comfort in the words of this Psalm as the writer recounts how amazing it is to have a God who really does care for us. No matter how hard life gets, God is always going to be with us and helping us through those times. I never really understood how much comfort Gods can give me until I was in desperate need, not once or twice but several times – so I know God is looking out for me all the time.
The obvious time was when I was in hospital and people close to me were being told I may not make it through the night; but I was not at all worried because I knew God was with me. I continue to marvel at the comfort He gave me when so many around me were finding things difficult. I owe a lot to a few good nurses who reminded me about my God!
Then there were the times when I knew I had done wrong and still God let me know He was with me, waiting patiently for me to come back to Him. When I see soldiers with this Psalm written out on their helmets or in a book with them I can totally relate to them because they, like me, have found out how good our God is!
God does this so we can be a light which shines brightly in the darkest of times. With that light shining we can help others to see the light and to draw near to God. We don’t have to convince them with amazing philosophical arguments saving how real He is; we just have to show people we are happy with what we have been given by God. They will then seek Him in some way where He will be able to open their hearts to the truth you and I know.
Points to Ponder:
Do you find life difficult at times?
Have you tried asking God to allow you to meet with Him during those times?
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February 3: Hebrews 13:1-9
Key Verse: Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Devotion:
I do have to laugh at some who say we should all be like brothers and sisters because I know of too many brothers and sisters who have fought tooth and nail for a long time! What people do tend to miss out is to say we should be like brothers and sisters IN CHRIST! There is a big difference between worldly people and Christians!
We don’t know everyone around us because we do meet strangers from time to time. We don’t know if God has brought them to us for a reason or whether we are supposed to show them something which God needs them to see… but if we do spend a bit more time listen to God and waiting for answers, just maybe we will be able to do what He wants us to do with those around us instead of treating them like the world does.
God really does want us to be examples for the world to see and think about – what use are we if we look like everyone else? We need to stand out from others so people ask themselves why we are different; that will give us the opportunity to tell people why we are different and allow them to discover a life with Christ. That is what the author is talking about here in these verses – being the example people look up to!
God has always been the perfect example for us to look up to, but sometimes we struggle with looking up to Him because He is so perfect; sometimes we think too lowly of ourselves to realise others can look up to us. God has set us aside as Christians for for a reason. Don’t take you life lightly!
Points to Ponder:
What makes you different?
Do you think anyone can see a bit of Christ in you?
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February 2: Hebrews 12:18-21
Key Verse: Hebrews 12:21
The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’
Devotion:
When Moses got to see the real power of God, he was very afraid of what God could do to the people of Israel if they made Him angry. He went out of his way to try and make sure the people of Israel followed God and kept His commandments; but he also knew they would not be able to fully keep all of the commandments which made him seek the truth even more than he would have done so.
This is what seeing the true power of God should do. It should not make us quake in our boots and fear every step in case we do something wrong, it should make us seek Him more to find out the truth. The more I read the bible and find out what God wants from us, the more I want to know and the more I seek to try and convince people they should be doing the same.
God does not want us to be so afraid we are too scared to come to Him. He does not want to be a tyrant whom nobody wants to get to know. He wants us to seek Him and to draw closer to Him every day. He wants to show us the righteous path and to make our lives a bit better for knowing Him.
When we get too scared of someone we try to avoid them and stay out of their way. This is not what God wants in a relationship between Him and you. He wants you to draw closer to Him all the time so He can protect you and guide you. God wants us to be His children who are willing to go to Him for guidance and protection...
Points to Ponder:
Who do you fear in your life?
Will you draw a bit closer to God to belay that fear?
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February 1: Psalm 103:13-18
Key Verse: Psalm 103:17
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children
Devotion:
One of the things about being a parent is you get to know your children a whole lot better than they think you do! Of course there are always exceptions where a parent does not love and nurture their child or children and so do not get to know them very well, but they are normally the exception. The more we draw closer to God, the more He can love and nurture us… He does not need to love and nurture us to get to know us any better but He does!
For us to get to know our children we have to spend time with them and learn the hard way. The better the relationship with our children the more we get to know about them and the closer we are to them. The same can be said for us toward God. We could just sit back and accept He loves us, but the more we get to know Him and the more we love Him, the closer our ties become and the better the relationship with Him.
We can get to the end of our tether and get mad at our children. We can get so mad we draw away from them and lose touch with them, but God’s love cannot be measured in any earthly terms. He never steps back from us because we are the ones who step away from Him. The way we can stay closer to Him is through following His will in our lives and obeying whatever He asks of us. The closer we are the more likely we are to follow His will and the more likely we will be able to hear Him when He tries to tell us something...
Points to Ponder:
How close are you with your family?
How close are you to God?
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January 31: Hebrews 12:1-4
Key Verse: Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Devotion:
What do you do when you are faced with the truth? Do you turn your back on it and continue down the path of deceit and lies, or do you turn away from the deceit and lies and face the truth no matter what happens? It sounds such a simple choice to make, but when we are faced with a choice like this, many of us will take the line of telling a lie so we don’t have to face the consequences of the lie…
Jesus tried to show the disciples the truth was always the best choice, even when it meant they would have to face dire consequences; if you build lies upon lies, the consequences get graver and graver until it all collapses around you like a house of cards! When I was in school, in my final year of high school, I had some time between classes and I sat by myself in the common room with a deck of cards and built a house with the whole deck. Within a few minutes of me finishing a bus trundled down the road outside the school and that was enough to shake the table a tiny bit and the whole house crumbled!
If we try to build our lives on nothing more than a bit of friction and cardboard, then we will have to face being knocked down just as easily as my house fell down. It will only take a single moment of truth for our whole lives to change in an instant. If we are lucky we will not be hurt too much… but it’s not worth the worry!
God will always stand for the truth and He wants us to do the same as His children, as His disciples. He wants us to be the example which will encourage others to stand for the truth at all times as well.
Points to Ponder:
Do you hold back on the truth sometimes?
Will you try to uphold the truth today?
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January 30: Mark 5:1-13
Key Verse: Mark 5:13
He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Devotion:
This is one of those stories from the bible which makes me feel uncomfortable in many ways. We do face many things in our lives which can make us feel very uncomfortable but when we know they are the truth we need to accept them and move on by trying to understand them. My heart goes out to the man because he had not been in control of his own life for a long time now; the spirits or demons had controlled his life and made it quite miserable.
When Jesus saw the state the man was in, He had compassion over him and did what was right. The first things was to tell the impure spirit to leave the man alone. That, I actually find comforting. No matter what state we are in and no matter how far we seem to be away from God, He is always willing to come and meet with us in the state we are in.
When Jesus confronted the spirit He found there was not one spirit but many spirit who were controlling the man; they were probably fighting amongst themselves all of his life and making him do all manner of things. That is the first an most upsetting thing which bothers me. How can anything or anyone be so mean as to take over a persons life and not allow them to live it. God gives us a free choice to live the life we want to, even if it goes against what He knows is best!
After that, the spirits knew they were in a spot of bother because they had been found out. The last thing they wanted was to be tortured like they were torturing the man… in this modern age we would probably find a lot of people who would be willing to place the blame on the spirits and condemn them to a life of torture – that is what gets me the most… that is the age in which we live!
Points to Ponder:
Are you quick to judge others and blame them for things going wrong?
Would you be willing to allow Jesus to have control in your life?