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28 October: John 15:17-27
Key Verse: John 15:25
It was to fulfil the word that is written in their law, “They hated me without a cause.”
Devotion:
One of the things we will always find is that someone, somewhere is going to hate us, just because... absolutely no real reason other than that is the way it is going to be!
Jesus warned the disciples when they were going to go out and talk to people that there would be some who just hate them because they dare to tell the truth.
We see this all over the world in politics where people are hated because they dare to tell the truth or to point out some shortcomings - nowhere more so than certain western leaders!
But the great thing is that, no matter how much trouble we have to face here on earth, when the time comes Jesus himself will stand up for us!
Points to ponder:
Do you get down with people hating you?
Have you thought of the joy when Jesus stands up for you?
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27 October: Luke 13:18-21
Key Verse: Luke 13:19
It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’
Devotion:
I wonder what the people though about the answers Jesus gave here to the question of 'what is the kingdom of heaven like?'
To me, heaven is going to be a place outside of the boundaries of my imagination because I am stuck in this mortal, physical world and that is all I can get my head round sometimes!
But to Jesus, heaven was where he was before he came to live as a human being amongst us. So Describing it in normal terms would just be alien! So he chose to be abstract but giving them and us an understanding that heaven is so much more than we can think of.
A seed is something tiny, but given time it can grow into something huge which serves so much more than just a seed. It is beyond the understanding of the seed and anyone who sees its origin as a seed!
Points to ponder:
Are you struggling to think about what God has in store for you?
Why not try to live in this world for now, as a servant of God...
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26 October: Ephesians 4:32-5:2
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:2
and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Devotion:
It saddens me to watch things on the news and the internet where politicians or world leaders always talking ill of others instead of trying to do what they were elected to do!
But, when you take a look at society as a whole, so many of us are reflecting those sort of ideals instead of the love for one another Christ has asked us to follow.
Jesus came and displayed just how good loving one another can be. He came to show the world there is a way forward without all the terrible gossip and lies people tend to spread instead of the uplifting talk we can do instead.
Jesus gave up his own life for us because he knows we have a special thing deep within us which can love one another. Let the love out and share it!
Points to ponder:
How often do you gossip?
Will you try to share a bit more love today instead?
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25 October: Matthew 22:34-46
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:
These have got to be some of the most over-used verses in the bible, but it is good to have a reminder about what Jesus was saying here because we often get too caught up in the academic side of religion and forget about the personal relationship we should have with Christ.
These verses are Jesus trying to get the people around him to forget about the rules and regulations which they had made up to try and get everyone to adhere to the way they wanted things to happen, and to move toward a life where they had mutual respect and love for one another instead.
If we base our lives on the love and respect Jesus wants us to have for each other, things would probably be a whole lot better for each of us!
Jesus also tried to get them to understand what it was God was trying to get them to follow: not a bunch of rules which were there to show them they could not keep them, but a new way a living together in love and hope and mercy.
Points to ponder:
Do you reach out to love when someone asks for help?
Or do you try to avoid them because of the rules someone else said you must keep...
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24 October: Luke 13:1-9
Key Verse: Luke 13:8
He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it.
Devotion:
When I go back and read some of the passages in my bible, I often try to put myself in the shoes of the writer, the people who were being written to and what Jesus would have been thinking about at the time.
Here Jesus was talking with the disciples about some of the atrocities which happened to other people, just because they were different! This is something we face all the time because some people just don't get it that we are all different!
And then there is the fact that stuff happens in this world which is out of our control because someone else just can't get it and they rebel or discriminate or just hate on others because of their differences.
Sometime we have to be the ones who are willing to step forward and throw a bit of manure onto the site so that goodness can start to spread from the inside out. If there is no goodness or mercy, then things will just continue to spiral out of control!
Points to ponder:
Are you willing to step up and offer to do a bit of dirty work?
Someone starts the work and others are encouraged to continue it...
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23 October: Psalm 142:1-7
Key Verse: Psalm 142:3
When my spirit faints within me, you know my path; in the way wherein I walk have they laid a snare for me.
Devption:
How often do you admit to your problems or failing in life? Most of us seem to want to bury all the bad things and only admit to the good in our life. God knows what we are going through and wants to be able to help us get through life without all the hassle...
Admitting things to God is going to be the best first step you take in life - not because you can then get away with anything, but because you are taking a step towards your own future with God!
God wants each of us to realise our shortcomings - before we do that we are much less likely to change our ways or to listen to the advice he actually gives us.
When we are covering up our faults, we are not going to listen to anyone who tells us to change from those ways. That is why God wants us to admit things to Him first of all!
Points to ponder:
How often do you bury a fault or an issue?
Will you take the first step...
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22 October 2026: Ephesians 3:14-21
Key Verse: Ephesians 3:16
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,
Devotion:
One of the hardest things to do is to try and give yourself strength to get through some hard-going task or occurrence in your life. Sort of like trying to pull yourself out of a hole by your own strength instead of getting help from someone who is not in the hole too!
When the world is getting you down, or you are feeling spiritually low for any reason, just talking to yourself does not always work! But if you share your problem with someone else and they can offer any comfort, things do seem to be lighter and you gain inner strength from that.
But what happens when the people around you are the cause of the issue? That is when we need to reach out to someone who has always offered help - whether we have heard the offer or not. And that is Christ through the Holy Spirit.
God gave people strength through the prophets and through people who could lead them; but when those people who should have helped actually caused the issues, they had to look elsewhere for that help. God has always been there - people have not always listened!
Points to ponder:
Do you turn to Christ when you are in a spot of bother?
Are you willing to listen to him...
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21 October: Luke 12:39-48
Key Verse: Luke 12:43
Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.
Devotion:
Whilst I would normally choose the verse at the beginning of this passage to remind us to be ready for anything, and ready for the day when Christ will return, I chose this verse to remind us of the level God chooses to love everyone.
Just as the master in this parable would be happy the slave is doing what they should be doing, God will be happy to find us doing what we should be doing when the time comes!
Why should he have to continually remind us to do the things he wishes from us? Why should he have to do so much just to try and get us to do what he asked of us in the beginning?
We should know what has to be done, be willing to listen and learn of what has to be done, and be willing to step forward and actually do what has to be done!
Points to ponder:
How much do you think God is asking of you?
Are you willing to step forward and do something for him?
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20 October: Luke 12:35-38
Key verse: Luke 12:35
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;
Devotion:
How often are you ready for the work God has organised for you to take care of? I have a reminder in my calendar which tries to remind me every morning to write another devotion - it does not always work because I do not always take notice of the reminder my phone and watch give me!
God knows we live in this world with so many distractions and so many things to remember to do; he also gives us all the tools we need to remember and do those things... Whether do get round to doing them on time and for his glory is a whole different kettle of fish (that's a weird saying!)
But God also would like us to remember him and all he does in our lives without having to prompt us and remind us every day. Sometimes it is very nice to have someone step forward and do something for you or encourage you in some way.
If we are truly willing and able to do things which others can see as us working for God, we will make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those people who notice. Just maybe that is the encouragement that would like to see which will make the difference in their lives!
Points to ponder:
When was the last time you showed someone you care about them?
When was the last time you told God he is number one!
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19 October: Isaiah 35:3-6
Key Verse: Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
Devotion:
These verses come just as I feel like I have had a rough week, getting up early and going to bed late. Nothing like a good night sleep in a cosy bed!
There are always going to be times when we feel like everything is going against us, or when we feel like we do not have enough hours in the day to do all we expect ourselves to do. It is at those times in our lives when we have to take a step back and allow someone else to do things for us instead of trying to do it all alone!
God may not physically be the one who steps forward and does the things you normally do, but he can make other people available who will be willing to step in for you.
The thing is, we don't always look at it like that. Far too often we think we have to continue doing things or nothing will be done. Or we think someone else has done it for us. Sometimes it is God working in their lives to encourage them to come forward and do what has to be done.
Points to ponder:
Do you thank God for organising things in the background?
Will you praise God for working in everyone's lives...