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October 12: Luke 11:5-8
Key Verse: Luke 11:8
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
Devotion:
One of the things we do in relationships is take others for granted at times even when we do not mean to and say we will not. When Jesus told us to love one another is was so we would not take anyone for granted and we would go out of our way to help those in need.
I have learned the hard way because I have had relationships break down because I have taken someone for granted. Once we can get our heads around this simple fact we can move forward and we can begin to love people for who they are instead of just because God says so!
On the other end of the stick we also need to allow people to know what our needs are. Any relationship is a two way communion and sometime we need to explain exactly what we need to move forward. This parable of the neighbour who came knocking to see if there was any bread they could give to their travelling friend is a case in point: unless we ask we should not expect others to give because they may not know our need.
God wants us to be like this with Him too. Although He does know our needs, unless we ask we will not be acknowledging Him as the one who can supply our needs. And when someone comes out of the blue to ask for help we need to be considerate and give what we can.
Points to Ponder:
Do you take people for granted?
Do you expect people to know your needs?
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October 11: Luke 11:1-4
Key Verse: Luke 11:3
Give us each day our daily bread.
Devotion:
One of the things the disciples were worried about is how to pray because they could see how God would always answer the prayers of Jesus and how often Jesus would go off to pay too. When they asked Him how they should be praying, His answer was surprisingly simple.
God does not need a big speech about how things have been done and what we think should be done in the world. God simply wants to hear your personal communion with Him. This means a simple two way meaningful conversation with God, starting off with acknowledging Him as our One True God just as Jesus did in every prayer. Then asking for wisdom in whatever form He chooses to give to us.
I have been writing these devotions for over two decades and I continue to get more out of the Bible each time I site down and study for what comes next. Sometimes I miss a day or two, or even weeks when in hospital, but as soon as I remember and am able I sit down to be with God. The more I do this the closer I get to Him and the more I understand what I have to do for Him.
Mine is not to shout and sing because I don’t have the voice, but mine is to be still and listen to Him before sharing what I learn each day. As simple as that sounds, it is, and I share it with you all.
Points to Ponder:
Do you get worried about how you should pray?
Will you sit down with God and try to have a conversation?
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October 10: Luke 10:38-42
Key Verse: Luke 10:40
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
Devotion:
Sometimes we get too distracted by what other people are doing or not doing to be able to see what we are not doing… Mary and Martha loved Jesus and they wanted to do what they thought was right for Him at the time. Mary just wanted to soak in the majesty of the moment by sitting at Jesus feet and listening to everything He had to say, but Martha wanted to show Jesus her love for Him by waiting on Him and the other guests.
Martha took offence to what Mary was doing and what she should have been doing in her eyes… a case of concentrating on the wrong thing. Each one of us is created different from others and we will worship God in different ways. Some will love to shout out and sing for everyone to hear. Others will want to quietly site with Christ and listen without even talking or making a sound.
There is no wrong way of worshipping God if you are doing what you heart says you should be doing to glorify Him. The fact you are doing something just for God is what He is looking for – an honest reflection of what is in your heart for Him!
Jesus wanted Martha to understand we don’t have to have all the bells and whistles to make our worship better. We just have to be honest and open with our feeling for God. Others will pick up on the fact we are being honest and open and may well choose to be more open with Christ too. That is enough!
Points to Ponder:
What do you like to do to worship God?
Are you being caught up in what others are doing?
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October 9: Jonah 1:1-9
Key Verse: Jonah 1:3
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Devotion:
Jonah ran the other way when God called him to preach against the people of Nineveh! There are probably many times in your life when you have run the other way instead of stepping forward to handle a very difficult situation; and if any of those times have been when God asked you to do something, He will persist until you do because He knows you are the best choice for that task!
God does not draw a name out of a hat to see who does the next thing, He chooses people carefully and with the knowledge they are the best people for the current circumstance. If He is calling you to do something which may seem uncomfortable right now, take courage in knowing He has chosen you despite the opposition!
He will not leave you to fend for yourself because He is asking you to do something for Him. He will not push you into a dead end to see if you will survive, He is pushing you forward because He chose you!
This is our almighty, all knowing, all powerful God who is choosing you! He is asking you because He knows exactly how to solve the issue you are going to face and as long as you are willing to let Him be your guide, you will be able to succeed! I know this first hand from the things He has asked of me...
Points to Ponder:
Do you shy away from God’s work because you think you cannot do it?
Why else would He have chosen you?
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October 8: Exodus 20:1-20
Key Verse: Exodus 20:3
You shall have no other gods before me.
Devotion:
If there are things we forget it is most likely going to be the things which happened when we were just living life and which happened a long time ago. But when big things happen in our lives we tend to remember them even if they happened a long time ago. The Hebrews had been long-time slaves to the Egyptians and now God had delivered them from their plight. But before they got comfortable and started forgetting things He wanted them to remember some basic rules about how they should now conduct their lives.
No longer were they going to be told what to do every day. No longer were they going to be restricted from living their own lives. No longer were they going to just listen and do… they would have to find their own way now and live a new life.
When we leave home for the first time we start out on a new adventure, and if we have listened to our parents we most likely have a good chance at making it through the next few years. God wanted the people to have a good grounding of basic rules to live by and so He gave these rules to Moses.
This is what we now know as the Ten Commandments; the basic rules God gave us to live by. None of them are grievous. None are impossible. But as humans we may find some of them difficult to follow when so many people around us are ignoring them! God wants you to have a great life and these are the simple ways of doing that, starting with loving Him!
Points to Ponder:
Do you keep God as you primary focus?
Will you try to keep these commandments?
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October 7: Luke 10:17-24
Key Verse: Luke 10:20
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Devotion:
When Jesus sent out the 72 people to go ahead of Him into all the towns before He got there He probably did so for a few reasons. I like to think the primary reason was to show people they could do amazing things in the name of Christ when they chose to listen to Him and obey Him. The same still stands today and will continue to stand for as long as the earth remains.
But the warning He gave them when they returned to Him was one which many people fall into nowadays. Jesus warned them about being proud they could get spirits to submit to them. Instead He told them to rejoice they knew they had a special place in Heaven because they were listening to Him and obeying Him.
When the person shouts out about what they have been able to do, they are lifting themselves and not God any more. God has given us the choice as to what we do, but when we turn our back on worshipping Him and giving Him the glory, we are treading into areas we probably don’t want to be in. When we promote ourselves we may well find we are left to fend for ourselves and fall short of many things!
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit after hearing the good news and immediately praised God for allowing this all to happen. He especially praised God ordinary people could do such marvellous works when learned leaders who lifted themselves up were not able to do such works.
Points to Ponder:
Do you trust God to use you?
Will you keep praising God when He does great things through you?
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October 6: John 9:20-24
Key Verse: John 9:23
That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’
Devotion:
One of the things I strive to do is to recognise Christians who disagree with institutional ‘churches.’ Jesus tried to teach us believing in Him is what is required and yet some institution which call themselves ‘churches’ will do what they can to force people to do things because they say that is what God requires. Jesus taught the disciples well and they went out to teach others the truth; and yet some people will just not accept the truth.
There may be many reasons why they do not want to accept the truth and I am not qualified to say why they don’t accept the truth. The only thing we can do is to continue learning from the Holy Spirit as we read the scriptures and draw closer to God through the truth and through faith in Him.
I have met people who’s faith has astounded me and yet they continue to support their local church even if the local church has issues with some of the scriptures. These people stand firm on the Word of God and continue to try and show the people around them a love which comes from Christ through them.
If we can continue to show people the truth in the scriptures without alienating our local churches, we would see a revival which would come from deep within people instead of being seen as the latest fad or something which would help promote themselves.
Points to Ponder:
Do you look for what you can get out of a local church?
Or do you look for what you can do in a local church?
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October 5: Nehemiah 8:7-12
Key Verse: Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
Devotion:
Nehemiah was led by the Lord to go back and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem but before he could do that he had to get permission from Artaxerxes and gather all the right equipment; a bit of a logistical nightmare! But God had declared it so things fell into place… but not the local people. No matter how well things go and how much we know God is sending us there will always be someone who objects because they don’t get recognition!
After a long time of opposition and delays, the project was finally complete. The exiled people returned and the Levites set about teaching the Law, the Scriptures, once again. Nehemiah had made sure nobody was left out, the poor were helped and all the people got to hear the law after the building work was done; because now was the time to rebuild the spiritual wall for the people.
After hearing the law retold, the people were somewhat afraid and many were crying knowing what they had done wrong and beginning to see why everything had happened over the last few years. But Nehemiah did not berate the people. He stood firm with the law and told the people to look forward to what would come because they had collectively set things right once again.
Guiding the people to celebrate their victory he made sure nobody was left out, the poor would get the support they needed and everyone would rejoice because God had made all this possible!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you stop doing things because of opposition?
How often do you really rely on God?
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October 4: Luke 9:57-62
Key Verse: Luke 9:62
Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’
Devotion:
During Jesus’ ministry on earth, I wonder how many people said they would follow Jesus and ended up being caught up in life instead of doing the will of God? Luke records a few of the types of people who would say they would follow Jesus but ended up focusing on their earthly problems instead of following what they had just said to Jesus.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have my own earthly issues and problems which I have to deal with all the time, and I know I have not always said yes to Jesus. So when I read verses like this it reminds me of my own shortcomings and makes me want to try harder to please God. The way I try to look at things nowadays is to ask God for guidance when my earthly issues are getting in the way. One way or another His answer gets through to me!
We get side-tracked with things happening around us and especially in our families. God does not want us to turn our backs on our families, but He also does not want us to turn our backs on Him. Inviting Him to join us in our earthly journey gives us the chance to do both!
Our journey with Christ is not going to be straight forward and not going to be easy all the time; but living with Christ in the centre of your life allows you to face more with His strength and to find answers to life’s issues faster. When I look back and see what I have been through, the hurdles I have faced and the things which God has done for me, I know He is not finished with me yet!
Points to Ponder:
Do you make excuses before following Christ?
Will you ask Him to be with you in your problems?
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October 3: Luke 9:51-56
Key Verse: Luke 9:53
but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
Devotion:
There are going to be times when you are going to find opposition to what you are doing simply because you are doing something different to what they want or expect of you. I worded that carefully because we will find opposition to worshipping God from both outside your church and maybe even to within your church!
People may well object because we are going to church instead of going shopping with them or going to the beach with them; that is what we come to expect as Christians since we have seen this throughout history. But what we may not expect is how some people will object to us worshipping God simply because we dare to do something different to what they want!
God has always encouraged us to worship Him in whatever way we feel is right because He then knows that worship is coming from the heart and not just being performed because that is what the rules say should happen. God does not want a troupe of automatons who perform the same thing day after day or week after week without feeling a sense of love and even pride for worshipping Him with a full heart!
The disciples met opposition from the Samaritans because they were going to Jerusalem! Jesus rebuked them for thinking He should pour fire down on them for such a thought… God has given us free choice to do what we please. If people choose not to worship Him, they have chosen not to accept His will in their lives and that is their choice to make, not ours. We should show them we have made a choice for ourselves too.
Points to Ponder:
Do you struggle with opposition to your worshipping God?
Will you allow them to see you have made your own choice?