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August 25: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Key Verse: 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.
Devotion:
How many times have you seen someone on a street corner holding a sign that says "The end is nigh" or "God is coming" or other words like that.
Most of the time people have banners like that up to try and spark a reaction from the passerby, not because it is true that God will come back at some stage, but because they want a reaction. Is it right?
It seems like many people back in the times of the Net Testament were doing the same thing and trying to get a reaction from the people, trying to get them to be scared and give in to what they are saying.
God does not teach us to be like that. He teaches us to be honest and open about things. To look at the words in the bible and portray the truth to others so they can make their mind up in all fairness.
Points to ponder:
Do you use scare tactics to see your wares?
God simply lays down the truth and allows you to make an informed decision - be fair!
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August 24: Isaiah 43:8-13
Key Verse: Isaiah 43:11
I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no saviour.
Devotion:
I love reading through the book of Isaiah because it has so many treasures; treasures of a prophet sent by God to remind the people about the every day things as well as the most important parts of obeying God and having faith.
In these verses we are reminded that it is not just about having ears to listen & eyes to see. It is about accepting the Word of God as the truth, having faith in this God which we are told about in the bible and believing he is ready to love us no matter where we are in our lives.
But that means accepting this into our heart and not just head knowledge. It is about listening with more than just your ears. It is about observing the world and people around us with a renewed mind.
When we start to look and listen deeper than just through worldly eyes and ears, we begin to understand a bit more about God and his will in our lives!
Points to ponder:
How often do you have a real conversation with someone - when you feel what they are talking about?
Will you try to stop and have a conversation like that with God?
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August 23: Isaiah 61:1-9
Key Verse: Isaiah 61:8
For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Devotion:
When I read verses like these it brings to mind all the things which God told the people of Israel to do as they escaped their captivity and strove to do what God wanted them to do. Some of the things may well have sounded harsh.
Indeed, the people did not follow some of the instructions and they found out the hard way that we need to obey God at all times. That is why I chose verse 8 as the key verse here.
God is the God of justice. He does not do things out of spite, greed or any other malicious thoughts or feelings! But we do. We get carried away by our feelings, desires and wants, We give in to greed and corruptions!
God wants us to step away from such things in our lives and step toward righteousness at all times. That alone will brings us a little closer to him, but it is the love and respect for him as God which will bring us closer still.
Points to ponder:
How many times have you had a thought and then felt bad afterwards?
Are you willing to give to God, through faith...
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August 22: Mark 6:30-44
Key Verse: Mark 6:31
He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered how anyone can be a Christian in this world when we are surrounded by sin, strife, deprivation and even hatred?
The answer is: it is hard! And because it is hard, we do need to recognise we have to have some time to ourselves when we can rest and recuperate!
This does not mean we are turning away from our neighbours and not loving them, it means we acknowledge we have to have a little time alone with God to get the strength back to continue loving them more.
Jesus knew this and took time out. He warned the disciples to do the same. He did this through example and not just by telling them what to do. Being an example means more than just talk!
Points to ponder:
Do people know you as a Christian?
Or do you just talk about it!
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August 21: Matthew 22:34-40
Key Verse: Matthew 22:37
He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Devotion:
One of the great things about being a Christian who believes in Jesus and trust him daily is that you do not have to be constrained by the world!
Does this mean I can live outside the law? Certainly not! But sometimes the law imposes restrictions on us which are not righteous and this is because those laws have been made (or broken) by human beings!
We do get things wrong and we do go astray at times. But if we want to stay centred on God, then we have to follow the basic instructions he gives us. 1. To love the Lord God above everything. 2. To love the people around you like as you would yourself.
This means we must look to God as our everything. If you love someone special in your life, love God as much or more.
And then start treating your neighbours as you would yourself because that will spread God's love!
Points to ponder:
Do you show God you love him?
Do people around you know you for your love?
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August 20: Acts 7:44-53
Key Verse: Acts 7:51
‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.
Devotion:
One of the hardest things to hear in life is someone telling you that you are wrong and that you do not love them as you say you do!
The more we get caught up in the things we can do and the things we have control over, the more we begin to think we are in power and maybe even invincible!
Jesus tried to teach the disciples they had to give in to what the Holy Spirit was trying to teach them and to listen and obey. He did this through example by living hsi life just as he was teaching them.
The more faith we have in the Holy Spirit and the more we stop and listen to the Holy Spirit, the more likely we will actually do what he wants from us - only then ill we get closer to living the life God wants from us!
Points to ponder:
Just how much do you do things because you can?
Have you tried to stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit may be asking?
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August 19: Psalm 23:1-6
Key Verse: Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
Devotion:
Sometimes it is the simple things in life which give us the most pleasure, and one of the greatest pleasures I have in my life is knowing Jesus. Yes that may sound strange but bear with me...
There have been many things in my life which have not gone according to plan, many things I did not like, many things I disagreed with, but I am still alive and I still continue to find out more about life every day even though I am of retiring age now!
God wants us to know that no matter what, we have a companion in him. He wants to love, nurture and support us in our daily lives. He wants to be there for us no matter what. And he is!
There have been times in my life when people have asked me how I can continue or what keeps me alive; my honest answer is this relationship I have with Jesus Christ.
Points to ponder:
Do you have someone who is always there for you?
Have you tried allowing Christ to have that relationship with you?
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August 18: Ezekiel 28:1-10
Key Verse: Ezekiel 28:9
Will you still say, ‘I am a god’, in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a mortal, and no god, in the hands of those who wound you?
Devotion:
One of the most dangerous traits to have as a leader is pride because it is that pride which will lead to your downfall. We may know the saying "Pride before a fall" but this portion of the bible lays it out in God's words.
Here God is telling the Prince of Tyre through the Prophet Ezekiel that he is going to lose everything because of his pride and conceit!
God sets out to remind the prince he is nothing but a mortal just as the people around him. Yes he may have amassed wisdom and wealth beyond those around him, but it is still nothing compared to God and will amount to nothing when an enemy strikes against him.
God wants us to be humble and to lift him alone up as God of gods. No one or things can compare against God and we need to remember that at all times!
Points to ponder:
When we get encompassed by our pride, there is nothing we can do when the right enemy attacks!
Will you give God space in your life to spread his wisdom and glory?
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August 17: Acts 6:1-7
Key Verse: Acts 6:2
And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.
Devotion:
One of the things we will face when doing God bidding, is backlash from the people around us. Everyone wants things to be done their way and everyone thinks their way is the right way.
They may stop and reason with you showing you scripture to prove themselves right, but if they are taking you away from doing God's bidding, then it's time for something different.
God wants us to be servants, but if being a servant takes us away from sharing the Gospel and doing the things he has appointed for us, then we may not have got the balance quite right.
We cannot do everything. We can't do it all. We do sometimes need help and appointing other Christians around you to help with those extra tasks is actually the right thing to do. You are empowering other Christians to do God's bidding too!
Points to ponder:
How often do you feel like you are facing burnout?
When is the last time you asked for help - or accepted an offer for help!
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August 16: Jonah 1:1-10
Key Verse: Jonah 1:6
The captain came and said to him, ‘What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.’
Devotion:
This used to be one of my favourite stories from the bible when I was a youngster, not because of the truth behind it, but because it had a giant fish in it who ate a man and the man was still alive!
When I look at the story now, I marvel at what God can do when he needs to get our attention. Do not put anything past him to grab your attention at the worst possible moment!
When need to stop and listen to God when he is trying to get out attention, not run the other way or cast doubts by clinging onto worldly things. God is beyond that and will do a lot to try and get you on the right path!
Sometimes it is going to be stepping back from the world and just listening to that small voice within. Sometimes he will move mountains to get your attention!
Points to ponder:
How often do you turn back to the world when you know it is not right?
Will you stop and listen for once!