- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 610
May 24: Acts 16:22-34
Key Verse: Acts 16:25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them
Devotion:
Paul and Silas did what they believed was right; they were being mocked by a spirit within a woman who continually made her shout out things about them. Paul got so annoyed with her constant shouting he turn round and commanded the spirit to leave the woman – which it did! The problem being this spirit was how the woman made her living by fortune telling. When her owners heard she had the spirit removed they were annoyed because they would no longer be making a load of money from her!
The owners of the woman seized Paul and Silas and took them to court because they were reportedly doing things against the Roman laws! Well, the Roman laws demanded people would not worship anyone save their emperor. They even convinced the crowd to side with them and the magistrates caved in, ordering them to be flogged and thrown into prison!
Even after all that, Paul and Silas did not stop praying and singing hymns. They were not about to give up worshipping God, even in the face of danger and torture! God saw this and knew they were doing this because they loved God above all else. God did not sit back and do nothing. He caused a mighty earthquake to rock the prison and break them free.
The guards were very afraid because of the earthquake, but also very afraid because they knew they would be in deep trouble if the prisoners escaped! This put the jailer in a very awkward position and he was about to take his own life knowing he had no hope. Paul and Silas stopped him from harming himself and spent time talking to the jailer instead of trying to escape. Getting one more soul to come back to God was more important that their freedom!
Points to Ponder:
What do you do when people mock you about being a Christian?
Will you be more like Paul and Silas by worshipping God in the face of evil?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 727
May 23: Luke 6:27-31
Key Verse: Luke 6:29
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
Devotion:
I wonder how you were brought up to treat people who did not treat you properly… how about how to treat thieves? We live in a world where we call for justice in many ways, one of those being to try and stop people from doing terrible things like taking stuff which does not belong to them… So why do these words encourage us to not punish thieves?
We could argue these words do not apply to criminals, but that would not get us very far! Jesus wants us to have open minds and hearts to the many things which we will face in our lives. One of those things is going to be facing thieves. I would argue we have to take every case separately and to try and find out what Jesus said and not our English loose translation… The direct translation is probably not “pinch!”
If someone is in desperate need of something you have, then why not allow them to have it, and whilst we are there, why not see if they are in need of anything else. This is much more likely to be the intended translation of these words. Jesus did not withhold things from those who were in need, but rather gave them what they needed and sent them away with a blessing – most commonly seen when Jesus healed people!
When people come asking for a favour or asking for help – what do you do? Do you add that help to “the tab” and remember how many things they now awe you, or do you willingly give and not expect anything in return. If the recipient does have the means to give back what they have taken or borrowed, then they will do so… If, however, they are taking things with the intent of never returning anything, they will have to live with the consequences which continue to build up each time they take...
Points to Ponder:
Do you keep tally of what people owe you?
How much less stressful would it be to forgive the debt?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 784
May 22: Revelation 21:22-27
Key Verse: Revelation 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Devotion:
Have you ever seen something which seems to be impossible, or too lovely to describe with words? Have you ever tasted something which was so different you could not explain the taste in words? I guess John must have felt a bit like this when he got to see a glimpse into heaven!
We don’t quite know how to describe Heaven to others because we don’t know what it is like to live in a place where there is no guile or evil, where there is no darkness to hide inside… Heaven is going to be something we cannot describe in words to our friends because it will be something totally different from everything else in our lives. It is not going to be able to be described as a mansion or palace because it will be so much more than a mere physical place!
God wants us to have faith there will be a place where we can be with Him forever and not have to worry about all the things we worry about here on earth. No more bills. No more rent. No more electricity cuts. No more water shortages. No more food shortages. Heaven is going to be a place where we no longer have to live without anything.
We will never be cut off from God, Christ or the Holy Spirit. We will never be cut off from all the Christians who have gone before us. We will never have to worry about anything bad, evil or impure getting at us when we are in Heaven…. I find it easier to describe what we will not have to worry about than trying to depict what it could look like or be like – because that is currently beyond our level of understanding or imagination!
Points to Ponder:
Do you trust God has a place for you?
Will you trust Him more on earth because you have a sure place after life?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 696
May 21: Acts 16:6-10
Key Verse: Acts 16:10
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Devotion:
Sometimes we do have some rather strange dreams and visions; how we take them and how we react to them is going to be different for each of us. I know I had some pretty strange dreams the other night, but I also know they were entirely related to a strange film I watched earlier on TV. Sometimes God is going to try to get through to you in different ways, maybe it will be an intense feeling you should be doing something, or maybe it will be a dream, or, failing everything else He may send someone directly to you to tell you about it!
We don’t always listen to what God has to say to us because we are not always totally in tune with Him. I know I have had very deep feelings and prompts when I have been away at camps or festivals, but I have also had very deep feelings being at home by myself… when I was thinking of God, praying or just having a quiet moment with Him. If we are tuned in to the world around us we may miss out on what God is saying because the world is shouting louder!
Paul and his companions were going through Phrygia and Galatia and had not done a lot of preaching because God was not giving them the chance to. When they came to the border of Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, God once again stopped them from going further. Instead, God gave Paul a dream where he had a man of Macedonia standing and begging him to come and help them. For that sort of dream to come out of the blue, Paul knew God was reaching out to him…
If you have dreams or thoughts which are unrelated to anything else which is going on, stop and think about them; maybe God is trying to reach out to you. But how do we understand what God is asking… we stop and allow God to explain things to us through spending time with Him. Speak to God in prayer and wait for an answer. Wait. Wait a bit longer, He will answer...
Points to Ponder:
Do you spend enough time with God?
Will you stop and allow God to answer?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 617
May 20: Acts 15:23-29
Key Verse: Acts 15:24
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorisation and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
Devotion:
When I first read this letter the apostles sent out, I was a bit disturbed by what they wrote; so I sat down and re-read it a few times to get my head round the words… How often have you read a letter your received and gone off in a rage because you thought they were not understanding the situation or they were being flippant with their writings?
When we receive a letter, it is normally written with some forethought and maybe discussion amongst people about the content. So, if they have taken the time to think about what they are writing, should you not take the time to think about what they have written!
This is not a letter going out to apologise for the apostles or disciples which went there to teach about the Gospel – this is a letter to apologise for other people who have gone and spread their own stories, possibly even the religious leaders going and demanding the believers get circumcised… This letter was followed up by men going with Paul and Barnabas to remind them of the Gospel but to also set their minds at ease regarding the circumcision demanded by others.
The apostles listed clearly what the people should AIM to do. This was not telling them they would be damned if they did these or did not get circumcised; this was laying down a few truths they ought to try and keep with! Consuming food which was dedicated to idols was just wrong, both for the people consuming and for the people who had offered. Why go out of your way to upset others by disregarding their beliefs; rather we should be opening up the gospel and showing them what really happened. Keep things real and trust in Christ!
Points to Ponder:
Do you try to keep the commandments?
Will you try to keep these at the very least?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 633
May 19: Acts 15:12-21
Key Verse: Acts 15:17
that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things”
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered if God could ever love you? Have you ever wondered why God should love you because you come from a family of non-Christians? Well, I hope these words encourage you to seek God and to allow Him to open your heart to what He can do in your life...
Peter gave quite a convincing argument why the Gentiles should be allowed to come to God because of all the miracles and things which had happened in and around the Gentile places. This would not have been able to happen if God was not reaching out to them – instead they saw just how much God could reach out to anyone who is willing to listen. Barnabas and Paul joined in to tell of more things which had happened…
Then James stood up and reminded the Jews of the scriptures; those very same scriptures which they upheld to exclude other people from their religion! The prophet Amos had written these words down hundreds of years before Christ came to be amongst us, way before people actively excluded the Gentiles from everything.
God is willing to accept any person who is willing to call themselves a Christian; to say they are a believer and they know why Jesus came to live and die for us. Nobody has been excluded by what Jesus did, rather He opened the doors for everyone to be able to draw closer to Him. With that being said, James declared the Jews should not ascribe the Jewish laws to the Gentiles but to allow them to love God their own way. That being said, he did say even the Gentiles should abstain from food polluted by idols, avoid sexual immorality and a few other things because those laws were for everyone.
Points to Ponder:
Do you try to keep God’s commandments?
Will you allow Christ to guide you through the commandments?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 608
May 18: Acts 15:1-6
Key Verse: Acts 15:5
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’
Devotion:
I wonder, have you ever been in a religious organisation which said you have had to do something physical in order to be saved or forgiven? Maybe you have been told you had to go to a priest and ask to be forgiven? Maybe you have been told you had to be baptised before you could get to heaven. Maybe you have been told you had to change your life before God would forgive you...
If any of the above have ever been told to you, then I would question the motives of the people telling you these things. God does not require any physical thing or event in order for you to be forgiven. I am not talking about you physically asking Christ to forgive you, but rather any third party having to be involved in order for it to be valid. Jesus did not require this; His requirement for us is to believe in what He has done for us – as long as we mean it in our hearts, God will hear us and forgive us.
The Pharisees had a whole string of laws which had to be followed in order for men to be forgiven. This was set down by God to show mankind we would never be able to keep to those laws, we would break one or some of them at some stage. Christ came to set us free from the physical laws; although He would rather we do keep His commandments, we all fall short of the mark.
When the Pharisees came to the apostles and laid down the requirement the Gentiles would have to be circumcised just as the Jews were, they went away to think about it. They did not flatly reject the idea and did what they could to break down the rift which was being built up here. God does not want us to rebel against everything but to listen and discuss things; opening up God’s Word and allowing people to make the choice as to what they want to do is what Jesus was promoting. Jesus did not promote breaking the laws – He kept them!
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel like you are not worthy because you have done something wrong?
Will you simply ask Christ to forgive you in your heart?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 684
May 17: John 14:27-31
Key Verse: John 14:28
‘You heard me say, “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Devotion:
Jesus did not explain every step of what was about to happen to the disciples, He simply told them He was going back to Heaven but would return… They had to have faith their Christ would come back to them, and that faith was going to be tested to the ultimate over the next while!
How many times have you said goodbye to a friend or family when they go off to either live somewhere else, or go on a long break? If it was family and they were moving around the world, you may well be upset you will not see them for a while, but you still believe you will see them at some stage again. I have seen my brother go to live and work in various parts of the world, but each time I still knew I was going to see them again – even if it took several years!
Jesus wanted the disciples, and us, to have faith in His return, and after that, to have faith in Him being there for us no matter what – even if He is in Heaven and we are on earth. We still have Him watching over us and being with us in Spirit instead of in body. The Holy Spirit is always with us and always guides us the best way forward. If we listen and obey, we head toward the best solution… if we don’t listen and try to fix things ourselves, we tend to mess us more often than not!
Jesus started these words out with some direct encouragement – to not be afraid or troubled, because He was telling the truth and He knew this is what Father God wanted. When we stick to God’s ways, we will see why He wants us to do what He is asking… we may get worried as we don’t understand, but He has told us it will be OK and wants us to trust and believe. Don’t get trapped by worldly limits and science because God is not bound by either of those!
Points to Ponder:
Do you know Christ will return?
Are you listening to the Holy Spirit?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 826
May 16: Acts 14:5-7
Key Verse: Acts 14:5
There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to ill-treat them and stone them.
Devotion:
One thing Jesus warned the disciples about was the way they would be treated badly just because they were trying to spread the gospel; the same continues to be true all over the world for Christians and many other religions too. When a religion looks like it is gaining popularity and may start causing instability in the local governing powers, people start to object because they are taught to do so.
It is not normally the case people will object because it is the true way they feel, rather it is the way they have been conditioned to believe by the local powers that be. This could be the local government, or it could be another religion… People always want to be on the winning side and having to face someone who may overthrow the winning side can be dis-concerting for some; especially governing people.
In this case the Jews and the Gentiles were working together because it looked like the disciples were gaining too much ground too quickly. The corrupt leaders from both Jewish people and the Gentiles were supporting each other so they could stay in power and the disciples would not gain support – because any support the disciples gained would shine a light on the corruption within the leaders…
It is OK to withdraw or retreat when we are in danger. We do not have to continue facing danger when we could be loving and supporting another community in the name of Christ… as long as we are not running away for the wrong reasons. The disciples knew they could reach many more people with the truth by side-stepping the current situation!
Points to Ponder:
Do you fear what others will say about you being a Christian?
Do you not know Christ said you will face objections just because you believe in Him?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Hits: 741
May 15: John 13:31-35
Key Verse: John 13:34
A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Devotion:
When we start getting too comfortable in our lives as Christians, we may not forget about the commandments God has given us, but we may well start to ignore this commandment Jesus gave us. Jesus was speaking to everyone who was around the table, all of the disciples; I sometimes wonder whether He was trying to get them to remember this more because of what was about to happen...
Jesus follows on these verses by telling Peter he would deny Jesus three times before the morning was broken. But He had also just told them there was one who was about to betray Him. But these words between these two acts must always be remembered by us all. Jesus was telling them to love one another no matter what was about to happen!
We do get upset with people when we think they have done something wrong against us and we may well shun them or even try to get even with them. This is the type of act Jesus is warning us about because, if Jesus had got upset with Peter for denying Him three times, imagine what could have happened to Peter. Instead, Peter continues to be loved and, as prophesied by Jesus, was going to be remembered for many good things instead of the denials.
Jesus showed Judas great love and did not stop him from betraying Him to the Roman soldiers. His love continued even though He knew for a fact Judas was guilty! No matter how far we go in our lives, Christ is always willing to forgive us and to invite us to be with Him in Heaven… no matter what!
Points to Ponder:
How easily do you get upset with others?
Will you try to continue to treat all people equally?