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November 12: Philippians 4:8-9
Key Verse: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Devotion:
This letter to the churches in Philippi brings to mind the new life Jesus talked about. One where we dare to leave the sinful lives we have led behind and follow Him, not just in name but in spirit and ways too. The apostle talks about a different way a life, one where we do not focus on the lies, the social stigmas, the injustice and horrors of this world; one where we focus on the truth, upright, admirable, praiseworthy and beautiful things.
The world is full of such things but mankind continue to focus on the opposite things, all the ways which bring sorrow, hatred, wars and ill feelings. God wants us to set war behind us and to love our neighbours as our selves. That means turning our backs on the sinful ways which cause disruption and bring together all things which will allow us to share the truth and love one another.
Many churches around the country will celebrate Remembrance day in their congregations just as the world tried to celebrate it yesterday. Many people objected because of the wars which are continuing. Many people no longer want the wars and strife but don’t know how to open their hearts to Christ and to others.
Step outside your comfort zones today and show people we can make a difference when we come together in love instead of in wars. This is what Jesus is trying to teach us...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you hear about wars in the news?
How often do you spread good news and love?
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November 11: Romans 16:3-9
Key Verse: Romans 16:7
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Devotion:
These are a few of the personal greetings Paul sends out to the church people, each one of which he attaches a brief description of how he knows them. I chose the highlight to be this verse because he lists two people who were also Jews and who also were in prison with him at some stage. He describes them as being in Christ before he was.
To write out a list of people like this takes a personal touch and gives deeper meaning to the people who he came to know through the church and all because of Christ. How many of your friends can you name and describe how you met them? What sort of impact have they made on your life?
Now we turn the tables and try to think what sort of picture our friends will paint for us in a letter like this? How do they see us and can they remember we are Christians and what we have done in the church? When I first got to know Christ I also started to get to know people in the churches I went to and I remember what sort of impression they made on me. Not all of them good!
As we grow in Christ we get to meet more and more people. We get to see the people for who they really are if we spend time with them. If we make time to greet them and to listen to their stories in their lives we get to know what sort of lives they have lived and can gain a lot by just listening to them!
Points to Ponder:
Do you try to tell people how they should be as Christians?
Or do you try to show people what sort of a Christian you are?
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November 10: Luke 16:1-8
Key Verse: Luke 16:8
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Devotion:
This parable may sound a bit strange when you first read it because the rich man was scolding the manager for doing a bad job, but then the manager went round all the debtors and halved their debt and the rich man then commended the manager!
But they key is in this last verse where Jesus separated the master from the dishonest people which now included the manager. The rich man knew he had people who owed him money and he was using his staff to go out and try and get the money back, maybe even raising the interest on the loans or debts. When the manager did dishonest things by halving the debts he probably inadvertently allowed many of the people to be able to pay back the debts!
The rich man had probably not thought of things like that because he was honest and kept the debts up to date and had them chased as well. But the manager showed his true colours by being dishonest about all the debts because he was acting like the people who still had outstanding debts. Dishonest people attract dishonest people…
Jesus wants us to see how different people of the world are and to try and make ways in which they can be invited in to see how different Christian life is. If we stand up as staunch Christians many people will stay away from us because they don’t want to be shown up. But if we allow them some room to change, they may just do that and surprise us all!
Points to Ponder:
Do you always make sure the law is upheld?
Would you be willing to allow others to show you why they are different?
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November 9: Luke 15:3-7
Key Verse: Luke 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
Devotion:
This is one parable we probably cannot relate to because we are probably not shepherds and we probably don’t know any shepherds… at least that is what it is like for most people who don’t live on or near farms. So what would a modern day parable be like for the same message Jesus is trying to get over here?
How about if you were looking after dogs or cats in a kennel of some sort and maybe one of the animals which was put in your charge managed to dig their way out of their kennel and ran off to play instead! Imagine how worried you would be for that animal. Would you not make sure all the others were safe and run off to try and find the escaped animal; and then the feeling of relief and happiness when you found the escapee!
Now think of this in a way God may be thinking of us all… He is trying to look after us. If one of us were to run off and get mixed up with evil people He would be worried for us. He may even send someone out to look for us or even come Himself to look for us!
This is why Jesus describes the happiness God has when just one person repents and asks for help! Unlike in a kennel, God has given us free choice as to what we do with our lives. If we go off and get mixed up with evil, He is going to be very worried for us! This is why He allowed Jesus to come and minister directly to mankind!
Points to Ponder:
Do you always do what is right?
What do you do when you realise you have done something wrong?
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November 8: Luke 14:25-27
Key Verse: Luke 14:26
‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple.
Devotion:
This is one verse which will always be taken out of context and talked about in so many ways; but by taking it out of the context of the things which were happening around Jesus on this particular day, we get a different story to what Jesus wanted people to hear!
Many people were now following Jesus around; the picture we often think of is Jesus being followed by 12 eager students willing to learn, but in reality Jesus was always thinking of the many people who were following Him. Many of these people would have followed Him because of the healing and miracles. Some would be following Him to learn more. A few may have been following Him to try and trap Him into saying something wrong…
But on this day Jesus reached out to the crowds to try and get them to think about why they were following Him. We get people who go to a particular church to see the things which are happening. We get people who go to a church to sing with a big band. We get people who go to a church because they can learn much as a student from the priest.
Jesus wanted to stop people and make them think about the real reasons they were meeting or following Him. He wanted people to search their hearts and think about what God meant to them. God wants us to be real, to know in our hearts why we follow Him and to be able to express why too! This is the start of a real relationship with Him!
Points to Ponder:
Do you know why you go to the church you go to?
How is your relationship with Christ?
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November 7: Romans 12:14-16
Key Verse: Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Devotion:
As a youngster I can remember lashing out at people who did things against me and then feeling bad for doing so afterward. At the time of lashing out I was probably too caught up in anger and did not think of what I was doing to the other person. In the last decade I have found myself in positions where people have done bad things toward me and I have had to take time to think about how I should act; I am glad I have taken the time to think and not lash out as I would have done when I was younger!
Those times may have been testing but being able to think of a calm solution and a way forward which involved positive actions and not negative actions has led to me being able to find ways out of the situations. Asking God for help and listening to Him for answers has proved even more valuable!
It is little wonder then Jesus is telling us to use love instead of hate, to think of others instead of ourselves and to honour those around us even when they seem to hate us. When He says we should bless and not persecute, and bless instead of cursing it is to try to diffuse the situations and to allow others to think of a more positive and loving ways forward.
The key is not to think ourselves as being above anyone else but to honour others no matter how bad the situation seems to be. Doing so will make them think again about the way they are acting and allow them room to show love as well.
Points to Ponder:
How often do you act out of spite?
How often do you act out of love?
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November 6: Luke 14:12-14
Key Verse: Luke 14:12
Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
Devotion:
One of the things we often look for in life is what we can get in return for doing something. Our whole work ethic is based around this: you work for a known goal to get paid a certain amount. But that is not what is being talked about here, instead we are talking about giving things and not expecting anything in return.
Now we could give to the people around us, and I find myself doing this a lot. But when we do those people more often than not will do something in return for you. So Jesus was encouraging us to do things for people whom we know do not have the means to pay us back in kind. I agree the world would be a better place if we did all do things for each other even if they did things in return for us…
But Jesus wants us to go further than that and to never expect anything in return for the things we do. I learned this attitude from a very dear friend of mine who turned us around and went back to a local sandwich shop to buy a meal and drink for someone on the side of the road who had no clear means of paying him back. That act made me refocus on how I did things from that moment on.
Jesus came to do things for us knowing full well we did not have the means to pay Him back for what He did. The only thing He asks is that we love Him and those around us. Don’t be a giver because you know you’ll receive!
Points to Ponder:
What do you expect for the thing you do?
Will you try to do something for someone who cannot hope to pay you back?
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November 5: Micah 3:5-12
Key Verse: Micah 3:5
This is what the Lord says: ‘As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim “peace” if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.
Devotion:
One of our biggest downfalls is how humankind uses violence to try and get their point across. The prophet Micah was trying to warn the leaders of Israel how they would only land themselves and their country in deep water if they continued to try and get things done through violence or by distorting the truth.
Jesus stood for all that is righteous and ensured we saw how the truth should always be held up. The leaders of the tribes of Israel were using bloodshed, wickedness and various other means of injustice instead of upholding justice like God had told them to. The leaders had lost their way because of their own lust for money and power.
God wants us to see we should be reserving such feelings for loving and worshipping Him and not for the desires and wants in our personal lives. I don’t think Micah could have worded things any differently and yet the leaders continued to uplift themselves and their greed instead of God and His ways.
For as long as we continue to build empires, countries or even communities on the lust for money, power or any other personal gain, all we may end up getting is a small amount of personal gain. God wants us to look at the eternal picture and realise we need Him to be the centre of our lives and not greed, pride or lust!
Points to Ponder:
What is the point of what you are trying to do?
Will you try to help others to worship God in the right manner?
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November 4: Luke 14:7-11
Key Verse: Luke 14:11
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Devotion:
I love the way Jesus would watch people to see how they acted before He commented on things. Many times He would give them advice by telling them parables rather than calling people out directly to give them the change to change their ways or minds. This is one of those times when Jesus commented on their behaviour without naming individuals.
How often do you try to get yourself noticed when you enter a group of people? Maybe you come dressed in something outstanding so people will look up to you. Maybe you make a loud entrance so people notice when you have arrived. Maybe you go directly to the host to make yourself known in front of people…
Jesus is telling people they should act differently. When we arrive at a place we should not necessarily act like everyone else, but act more akin to you being just another person at the gathering. If we over-react we may well find we are overshadowed very quickly by the true guest of honour and that would make us feel very put out. If we humble ourselves then the host may well call us out and give us honour in front of others.
We should not be going to an event to be noticed but going there to be part of the event. We should not be going because important people are going, but going because we have been invited. God wants us to be leaders who serve, not leaders who dictate!
Points to Ponder:
Did you know Jesus wants you to be humble?
Do you know Jesus wants you to be a leader too?
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November 3: Luke 14:1-6
Key Verse: Luke 14:3
Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’
Devotion:
One of the things Jesus wanted to turn over was the unrighteous lawfulness of the Pharisees. How can it be unrighteous if it is the law? Sometimes we take things too far and we rather stick to the letter of the law rather than doing what is right in God’s eyes. Sometimes laws are made which should be righteous but can be used in an unrighteous manner if taken too literally or out of context.
This is why Jesus promoted the love of God and the love for one another above all other laws and this was a clear demonstration of this. A man was close by who had an abnormal swelling of part o his body. Jesus’ heart went out to this man and so He healed the man even though it was the Sabbath when the law stated nobody should work.
He reflected after healing the man by saying that if any of them had a child or livestock which was stuck in a well, they would go out of their way to rescue that child or animal even though it was the Sabbath. Jesus was saying His love for this man was as important as a child to Him and He wanted to rescue the man even though it was the Sabbath.
We need to reflect on things which confront us and make sure we are doing what Jesus would do rather than what the exact letter of the law says we are or are not allowed to do. Love above all!
Points to Ponder:
Have you ever helped someone out despite it meaning breaking a law?
Make sure your love is stronger than man’s laws?