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January 14: Mark 2:1-12
Key Verse: Mark 2:9
Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”?
Devotion:
Wherever Jesus went, He caused quite a stir! It was not that He was looking for trouble or caused trouble deliberately, but He did step on the toes of the people who thought they should be in charge of things. When people get a sense of power they tend to try and hold onto it no matter what! This greed is not something we are born with but something we learn from the world around us!
The teachers of the law who were gathered here where Jesus was were not here to get healed or to be blessed, they were ere to try and discredit Jesus in some way so they could keep on ‘being in charge!’ They wanted to keep what power and control they had because they enjoyed it. It gave them a sense of belonging and a sense of power which was enticing to them.
When we are confronted by something which sows doubt in our life, we try to avoid it or even prove it wrong so we can be right. If we have built up our life on things which are doubtful in any way, we should expect to be proven wrong at some time; but we don’t, we cling to what we have and try to cast everything else into doubt so we can continue in our world.
Even when faced with a miracle which happened right in front of them, the teachers of the law wanted to keep the ‘law’ they had built up because they were in control of it. They did not want to accept the truth even when they were shown it. We need to make sure we are always open to the truth – not just any gossip but the truth as it is backed up by the bible and the Holy Spirit.
Points to Ponder:
Do you have control of something in your life?
Are you willing to give control to God?
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January 13: 1 Samuel 4:1-11
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 4:10
So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
Devotion:
As we ready through the Old Testament, we find so many references to the Ark of the Covenant and how it protected Israel and allowed them to win so many battles. We may even begin to think there was some extraordinary power which the Ark had – but it was not the Ark, but who was with the Ark. God!
When the prophets gave the words of the Lord to Israel, they had a choice to listen and obey, or to go their own way. When they went their own way, they would often fail. But when they listened to God’s instructions and obeyed, God would deliver them and allow them to succeed. This was one of those times which we don’t get a clear explanation. Eli was getting old and Samuel was now beginning to take on the role of the prophet who should bring the word of God to Israel.
Was it because Israel went up against the Philistines without the Ark to start with? Was it because the Philistines dug their heels in and fought like they had never fought before? We don’t get a clear explanation – and life is sometimes like that. Sometimes there does not seem to be a good reason for failure, but things fail. Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves and yet we still fail…
It is God alone who has ultimate control over things and He who will deliver us if He knows it is best. Sometimes we come up against unreasonable odds and we face the consequences of those odds. Sometimes we are affected by the same things as anyone else and have to face what we call unreasonable times. If we open our eyes, we will see the people around us facing the same odds and consequences. This, unfortunately, is life!
Points to Ponder:
Who do you blame when things go wrong?
Are you willing to listen to God even if it is going to be tough going?
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January 12: Mark 1:29-31
Key Verse: Mark 1:31
So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
Devotion:
This is one of those passages in the bible which non-believers like to pick on pointing out they think we are all slaves to God. I have had people close to me tell me they believe we are using religion as a crutch; something I shrug off and try to show why I believe in Christ, which does not always work. So, I would like to try and show you another side to this story which shows love instead of desperation.
Simon and Andrew’s mother was sick in bed having a fever which was enough to keep her from anything she would normally want to do. As a parent I can say I have a compulsion to help my children because of the love which has grown between us. I go out of my way to help and support them when I can. I’m pretty sure Simon and Andrew’s mother would love to do something to not just support her children, but to show her love for any guest of theirs.
When Jesus went in to her, He held her hand and helped her to get up. If she had wanted to continue to be in bed, I’m sure she would have chosen to stay there. She chose to get up and do what she liked doing – loving and caring for her children and their guest! She had to take the first step of getting up when Jesus helped her. Jesus was showing He was willing, she was showing she was willing!
So if someone tells you you are using religion as a crutch, respond to them by telling them you are not religious. Then tell them you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, not because He is controlling you, but because you want to share the love He first showed you with anyone around you, including them. If they don’t agree, you have at least sown a seed in their hearts which Christ can cultivate when the time is right!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like helping others?
Will you help them by sharing Christ’s love?
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January 11: Mark 1:21-28
Key Verse: Mark 1:27
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.’
Devotion:
When Jesus started to teach others on this Sabbath, people were amazed at how much He knew, but also how He spoke with uttermost authority. What made it sound like He was speaking with authority? When we go to school and learn from our teachers, they need to speak with authority for you to believe them and trust in them. Teachers have spent a long time learning and now they are sharing what they have learned with others… but still there can be doubt sometimes.
When there is doubt in a teachers voice, we hear it and we find it hard to come to terms with what they are saying. This is not just something we learn from hearing lots of teachers, but something God has made us with from the beginning. When we hear the truth spoken with authority, we believe it and we know it is true.
Jesus knew exactly what was meant by the scriptures because He got it straight from God the Father. He listened obediently to His Father and spoke what He knew to be the truth. This is why the people around Him knew it was the truth – not because they had heard it all before, but because this man spoke in such a way they were convinced by the words.
If we put our faith and trust in Christ, He will allow us to speak to others with authority. I was never good at getting up and speaking to others in class or in University. It was something I had to get used to – even then I had doubts and those doubts could be heard by others when I spoke. When I accepted Christ as my Saviour and teacher, I began to understand things from the scripture in ways I had never known before. This gives me the authority to tell others what I hear through the Bible.
Points to Ponder:
When do you learn from the scriptures?
Do you obey God and allow Him to teach you thoroughly?
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January 10: Psalm 116:12-14
Key Verse: Psalm 116:14
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
Devotion:
Time after time people in the Old Testament would look back and recognise what the Lord had done for them; often-times not recognising it at the time. The same can be said about our modern lives – we look back after surviving something or getting through harsh times and we recognise what the Lord has done for us. We don’t see it at the time because we are so disturbed or disrupted by the hard times instead.
What does God want us to do – just to believe Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins by giving His life as a proper and sufficient sacrifice for all of our sins. He wants us to listen to what He has to say to us and to obey His instructions. We find it hard at the time because we are surrounded by the world and the temptations of it. But, when we look back and recognise what God has done, we should be praising Him for what He has done and turning to obey His instructions for us.
It is little wonder God has always given us a list of instructions, rules or the like – because we do find it hard to hear Him when we are surrounded by the world. But when we have the list of rules, we have something to look at during those times, something to guide us and to steer us away from evil.
When we give in to the world, we are turning away from God’s instructions. When we are listening to or thinking about God’s instructions, the worldly things will start to fade and dwindle. Out focus must be on God and on what he does for us all. Our will must be to follow Christ’s instructions and to try to do His will in our lives at all times. When we came to God and asked Him into our lives, we also promised to turn away from our sins. This we must do!
Points to Ponder:
Do you live the same as before you were a Christian?
How can people tell you are a Christian unless you obey God!
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January 9: Luke 3:15-22
Key Verse: Luke 3:16
John answered them all, ‘I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Devotion:
I don’t know about you, but I do get excited when I hear someone preaching who knows their stuff and almost knows what you need to hear from God. John must have been good at recounting the scriptures and explaining them too – something I like doing is trying to make the scriptures available to everyone by talking in plain English and not as if I have been to a university learning how to confuse people!
I know there are some great church leaders out there who have made it their life to study the scriptures, but when they come to tell others about what they have learned, it comes out like a lawyer recounting past cases. Jesus talked to the people using parables – some people could understand things easily, whilst others were confused. But He was trying to get people to think about what they heard.
John was very effective at teaching others and this is seen because some people were beginning to think he was the Messiah. His first reaction to this was to say their Messiah would come later commanding the scriptures better than him and baptising with the Holy Spirit and fire instead of water. As mentioned previously, our baptism is a reminder or reflection of our faith in Christ and of our new birth in Him as a Christian.
Jesus was obedient to this baptism as well. He came along to visit John and to be baptised by John; marking the beginning of His real ministry. Beforehand He would have shared the Word with others and talked about it, but we have no record of Him openly preaching to everyone. Jesus wanted to show us His faith was in God His Father and He was going to obey God in everything He did and said.
Points to Ponder:
How do you show others you are a Christian?
If you are baptised, what did your baptism mean to you?
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January 8: John 3:22-30
Key Verse: John 3:26
They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – look, he is baptising, and everyone is going to him.’
Devotion:
How many churches have you been to where all the people in the congregation say they will never go to another church because their priest/pastor/leader is better than any other? How many churches have you been to where people complain about what is going on and yet they still go there all the time? We never seem to be pleased with what we get and we always want better!
John had learned from the beginning he was a messenger who was sent to teach, preach, baptise and continue spreading the word for as long as people would listen. He knew the Messiah was coming and he knew he had a lot of work to do before Jesus was recognised for whom He was.
John would never compete with Jesus because he knew Jesus was the Messiah everyone had been waiting for. He knew Jesus was Lord. He had no issue with stepping back and allowing Jesus to take the glory and even the disciples who followed him to learn. John also knew there was no way he could ever compete with his Lord.
We need to recognise Jesus Christ is the reason why we are here and we need Him as our Saviour above anything and everything in our lives. I don’t know if you have ever had the privilege of being able to teach others the gospel story; when things go well, people thank you and ask you when you will be back again! I can see how easy it would be for anyone to get a bit big headed about their position and take some of that glory for themselves. John turned down the glory and refocused it on Christ because He knew Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Points to Ponder:
Do you know a good preacher you have always wanted to hear?
How often do you stop and listen out for Jesus?
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January 7: Luke 5:12-16
Key Verse: Luke 5:13
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.
Devotion:
Leprosy was one of the diseases everyone feared because they assumed it was much more communicable than we now know. The law was to put the lepers far away from the people in the towns and cities so they would feel a bit safer; the last thing anyone wanted to do was to get too close to a leper, never mind touching one!
Jesus knew this man was being put through an awful time by being shunned by everyone. Jesus could see in this man's heart and knew he wanted nothing more than to be healed so he could get back to normal life – which probably included going into the temple and worshipping God! The mercy of our Lord Jesus is on clear display as He reaches out and touches the leper to heal him.
What Jesus then told him to do was in accordance with the Jewish law. He would have to present himself to the priest to show he was ‘clean’ and no longer had leprosy. He would also have to offer the right sacrifices according to what was told through Moses – not because the sacrifice would make any difference to his health, but it would be a testimony to others who were seeking healing from God! He was giving them hope!
Because of the manner of this man’s rise to health, people talked and crowds began to gather to find out what had happened – so much for the man being able to quietly sneak to the priest to get it all sorted! Everyone was going to hear about this miracle and a lot of people were going to get to know a bit more about God! Sometimes it is the way we do things which makes the biggest difference and not the actual act of doing it!
Points to Ponder:
Do you seek glory for things you do?
Have you given Christ the glory for anything you were able to do today?
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January 6: 1 John 4:19-21
Key Verse: 1 John 4:20
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Devotion:
One of the most startling things I see is how many Christians we see who indicate some sort of hatred for others. I’m not talking about saying we disagree with someone else's politics or the way they do things, but genuine hatred for another person in their lives. Yes I can see how people can hate others, but if we are not willing to put aside those feelings and allow God to guide us, then we are falling short of the life God wants us to lead.
Yes I have hated people in the past and I dislike some today. But it does not stop me from caring for them and looking out for them as Christ has asked of us all. No matter what conflict I have come up against in the past I will always try to care for them as much as I can. If we turn our backs on others, we are denying them the love of God coming through us.
Does this mean we always have to say yes when they ask something of us? No! We should be doing what is best for them and asking God’s advice along the way. We do not know their inner needs like God does. We do not know what they are lacking in their lives. If we want to be more like Jesus then we have to give people a chance to get to know God.
So how do we love someone in our lives who has done things wrong or continues to do things wrong against us? We try to follow Christ’s example. Jesus did tell others when they were doing things wrong, but He did not exclude them from His life just because of that. Instead He tried to show them how life could be different with God in it. He tried to encourage others to include God in their lives too.
Points to Ponder:
Do you have issues with someone?
Do they know Christ is in your life?
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January 5: Mark 6:45-52
Key Verse: Mark 6:46
After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Devotion:
After feeding so many people and giving them much food for thought, the spiritual kind, Jesus retired to go and pray to His Father in Heaven. This was not a sign of weakness or a sign of having worked too hard. This was a sign of love for His Father in Heaven. He wanted to give thanks for everything which had happened so the people could be fed.
But once the disciples were alone in the boat in the middle of the lake, they began to lose sight of the power of God and began to focus on the wind and the wave surrounding them. Even after we have received blessings from God, as soon as something ruffles our feathers, we begin to focus on earthly things and tend to leave God out!
Jesus stopped what He was doing and set aside time to be with God. He did not wait until things started to break down before He prayed, He set time aside to pray. Note the disciples were perfectly safe while He was praying – because God would have been keeping an eye out for them anyway. But after His time of prayer, He started to make His way back to the disciples. Unfortunately they had allowed the weather to get the better of them and they were struggling to get back to shore.
Jesus decided to meet them where they were. He did not wait for them to struggle all the way to the shore – He walked out to them, walking on the water. They were terrified at seeing something like a spirit walking out to them because they were too consumed with what was happening. But when Jesus spoke, they recognised Him and things settled down when Jesus joined them in the boat. They still did not have the foresight to see what God was doing by providing for the people. He was sharing His love!
Points to Ponder:
Do you focus too much on the world?
Will you fully accept God’s love?