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October 31: Luke 14:12-14
Key Verse: Luke 14:13
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
Devotion:
When Jesus went to the house of a prominent Pharisee on the Sabbath, He watched the people around Him carefully. When a man in front of them clearly needed help with the abnormal swelling of his body, Jesus first asked the Pharisees if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath – He knew they had very strict rules about doing anything that may resemble work on the Sabbath… even though they would expect to be fed on the Sabbath!
When He saw the guests all striving to take the seats of honour, He told them they should not go to the best seat in the house in case the person who invited them had invited someone of greater stature than them; to save on the embarrassment of having to move! He could see they were more worried about what other people thought of them than the actual reason they were at the gathering!
He then told them they should not invite all the great people and honourable people but the poor, crippled, lame and blind – the people who were not seen with great honour in the community. His reasoning was they would be blessed greatly by inviting people who would not be able to pay them back… in other words we should be taking care of the people we know cannot pay us back!
If we simply go about doing things for people who we know will do something for us later on, then we are not really blessing anyone other than trying to gain blessing ourselves! God wants to bless those who are willing to give all and expect nothing in return. To Him those are the people who have genuine love in their hearts...
Points to Ponder:
Do you have parties to have more parties?
Will you try to help someone who cannot hope to pay you back?
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October 30: Luke 19:1-10
Key Verse: Luke 19:7
All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’
Devotion:
I wonder how many people have looked at me and said something similar just because I offered help to someone who was unjust in their eyes… I know I have gone against what some people say I should have done; I didn’t do it to rile anyone or to make them angry… I did it because I had compassion for the person I was helping at the time.
Having someone standing with their face a few inches from yours and shouting at the top of their voices is intimidating at the time, but quite amusing after the fact. Having them break things around you whilst you stand up for the truth is always scary. But standing up for the truth is what Christ wants us to do as much as we can.
This is why I love this story about the tax collector named Zacchaeus! The tax collectors were amongst the most hated people at the time – some still hold grudges against them nowadays. Jesus did not see him as a hated individual; Jesus saw a man in need of a Saviour and one who would accept Christ in the near future if given the right chance.
What was that chance? To be loved by someone and to be shown compassion! Jesus knew he could love Zacchaeus and knew Zacchaeus would come to love Him too. If we could see into the future like this we may want to show compassion to more people in our lives just because we know what is going to happen. What Christ wants from us is to trust Him and show that compassion even when we do not know the outcome!
Points to Ponder:
Do you like helping people?
Will you help someone even though you don’t know if they will like it?
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October 29: Philippians 1:18-26
Key Verse: Philippians 1:18
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Devotion:
As the apostle wrote these words, I’m sure he would have been thinking about the joys which await him in Heaven rather than thinking about the persecution or other woes which could await him on earth. This is one thing we face as Christians all the time, facing rejection, ridicule and other horrible things just because someone objects to you pointing out the truths in life!
Nobody likes to be told they are wrong or that there are shortcomings in the way they live or act. I can remember a few times in my life where I pointed out the shortcoming of the business that I was involved with and the bosses objected strongly to what I had to say – so much so I was forced to resign on one occasion just because I did what had to be done to save my bosses from blame for what was about to happen.
I thank God I do not have to do such things for God because I know He always stands for the truth and always expects righteousness in all cases. I am not ashamed for standing up for God at any time. What I do get ashamed about is when people ask me to stand up for them when I know they are doing things wrong.
Christ did what had to be done and was blamed for doing what He did. He stood up for the truth and people objected. They upheld their own ideals instead of the truth Christ was holding up. This is what we need to do as Christians – Jesus set the example for us to live by.
Points to Ponder:
Do you take shortcuts to save embarrassment?
Will you stand up for Christ’s truth?
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October 28: Ephesians 2:19-22
Key Verse: Ephesians 2:22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Devotion:
What Jesus did for us about 2000 years ago changed the world, not just for the people at the time but for all people all around the world who are ready to listen to the gospel – the good news. Because Jesus did what He did, we have become members of one big family under Him as our chief cornerstone…
What is a cornerstone? We lack the real knowledge of the importance of a cornerstone nowadays because buildings are built up around concrete posts, plinths and on concrete foundations. Back then the cornerstone would be the stone laid down in the beginning upon which the house would be built, not balancing on a single stone in the corner but around which the whole house would grow. If that cornerstone was not secure, it could take down the whole building if it shifted!
With Christ as our cornerstone, our building becomes purposeful and stronger, being holy at its core and built upon righteousness and truth. That is the importance of the cornerstone – the rest of the house is going to be fashioned on that stone. Without the core of truth and righteousness the Holy Spirit could not dwell within us and we would not have the hope and guidance He gives us.
God knew it could all be possible if He allowed Jesus to die for our sins and have us forgiven at our very cores. That is the wonder and splendour of what Christ has done for us. Accepting that as the truth it is gives us the best starting place to build the best possible version of us in which the Holy Spirit can dwell!
Points to Ponder:
Do you sometimes think you are too corrupt for God?
Jesus has cleaned you from the inside so the Holy Spirit can dwell in you!
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October 27: Ephesians 6:10-20
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Devotion:
What were you taught as a child; were you taught to fight back when someone did something wrong against you, or were you taught to try and make peace or turn away from things done against you? I think I was taught something in between because my parents tried to teach me God’s ways of doing things but I went to a boarding school where we had to fight back or we would get beaten up… so I saw both sides of the proverbial coin and had to make my own decisions as I grew up.
I am truly thankful my parents did teach me God’s ways because I have also seen many of my friends get into big trouble for retaliating when things did not go well. When we retaliate we tend to go much further than we should because our feelings get the better of our common sense and we do more than we at first think we should. That seems to be the way of the world and we are taught this on many fronts, from films to sayings and even our governments!
God wants us to put our trust in Him and allow Him to protect and guide us when we face adversities in our lives. It does not mean turning away medical help because He may be the one who has brought the right doctor to the right place at the right time to treat you and help you stay alive! I know I have had a few incredible doctors turn up to help me just at the right time over the past few years!
We do have to put our full trust in God though and not just a little bit here and a little bit there. God can do so much more when we give Him all the time and chances He needs. He is working things out for our good and for our betterment. We must trust Him by always trying to keep with the truth because that is where He is. We need to be ready to obey Him and trust He will guide us. Always turn to the bible to start that conversation with God because He has already told us so much in those words! Jesus started, finish by obeying Him and praying for more guidance at all times.
Points to Ponder:
Who do you turn to to find the truth?
Will you keep looking in your bible for more advice?
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October 26: Ephesians 6:1-9
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:5
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Devotion:
When we talk about love, we don’t tend to look at the whole picture but focus on the feelings of the here and now instead. Love encompasses so much more than the here and now and we need to open up our horizons to see just how awesome it really is! God has a full grasp of what love is and tried to show us through what Jesus did for us; we need to step up and take notice!
When God talks about love it is not limited to a feeling between two people, nor between family members, siblings or any other earthly pair – God talks about love through the whole experience of the world and everything in it. When you see a wonderful vision, maybe the autumnal colours of the trees, a gentle waterfall, a roaring river, a bleak mid-winter scene… whatever raises those feelings within you is just one aspect of what love encompasses.
Jesus wants us to take full grasp of love in our lives and share it with all the people around us not limiting its spread of meaning. Jesus laid down His whole world so we could know His love for us. We should be willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make sure we can experience a bit of that love He shared with us!
Love must be shared with the most unlikely people and in the strangest of places before we can begin to comprehend the gravity of this thing called love. We need to cast aside our limitations and our expectations allowing God to guide us through the Holy Spirit as we come to terms with what we just don’t know!
Points to Ponder:
How do you describe love?
Will you allow God to guide you toward a greater and deeper love?
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October 25: Ephesians 5:25-33
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:30
for we are members of his body.
Devotion:
When we look at the kind of relationship God wants us to have with others, we need to look at the relationship Christ has with the church. Nothing got in the way from allowing Christ to be our Saviour. Nothing was able to stop Him from doing what He wanted to do for us, not even death!
We think of earthly things in such a final and short-lived way whereas Christ looked at things from an eternal point of view. He was not bound by the finality of life as we think of it. He was not bound by the rules and regulations imposed by mankind or even the religious people – Christ freed us from all of this so we can spent eternity with Him in Heaven!
When we look at these words describing the kind of relationship husbands should have for their partners we see an eternal dimension which we don’t tend to look at when we think of relationships. Christ wants us to set aside our limiting factors and think more of the spiritual factors which will last forever.
We need to step aside from our physical limitations when we think of relationships and focus on the spiritual love which goes far beyond the physical. Why should we limit ourselves by earthly measures when Christ clearly did not set any limits on love. He broke the mould and set us free by showing us there is more to love than physical. Spend some of your earthly time with God today in a spiritual way as you pray and wait for answers!
Points to Ponder:
Are you limiting your love by earthly standards?
Do you know Christ never limited Himself?
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October 24: Luke 13:10-16
Key Verse: Luke 13:14
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’
Devotion:
Have you ever thought the world was against you just because you are a Christian? When you start to feel like you are being picked on, spare a thought for what Jesus went through whilst He was amongst us! God’s love for us is displayed through Jesus here as He reaches out to a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years! Jesus did not shy away from her just because it was the Sabbath; He went up to her and healed her just as He did many other people even though this was on the Sabbath. The love of God is not limited to works days or certain people or certain things – God’s love reaches out to everyone everywhere and always!
When you do something for God, people are going to notice and some will be angry you dare to do something for Him, especially when it goes against the rules they are setting in their lives. God’s promise to love us is not bound by promises we make, by rules we make or by anything man does…
The synagogue leader was keeping rules because that is what they had always done. They were not prepared to bend any rules or to make any exceptions because they wanted everyone to know just how strict God was… at least that is how they saw the world!
God wants us to know He power and might go beyond anything we can say or do. He love for us is beyond our understanding or imagination. His love is not going to be limited by any earthly rules or physical limits we impose on Him. God is above all and has power over everything. Imagine love that big!
Points to Ponder:
How far will you go for love?
Are you limiting your love for God too?
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October 23: 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Key Verse: 2 Timothy 4:16
At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
Devotion:
One of the hardest things to do, until you get used to it, is to keep on trusting in the unseen. I used to have great trouble trusting God because I thought I could never see the end result or see how He was going to help me. Many years ago I found out just how God does answer my prayers even without me knowing about it – and He answers more than I could imagine!
I don’t have any trouble now trusting God and that was very apparent to me over the last 4 years whilst I have been in and out of hospital. Every time I have prayed for things during this time, God has answered my prayers. People around me have had issues getting to grips with the amount I trust God now because I know how much He does for me…
A short while ago I heard one of my friends has had problems with their faith because they could not see how God was helping them. Just a short conversation and me being allowed to tell them of all the great things God has done for me during the last few years and they went away with a changed heart! God is good!
When our bibles say words like “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack…” we should be believing this and trusting in God for more in our lives. He does indeed want the best for us and how He answers our prayers will astound us when we look back and see how much he has done. It may not always be immediately apparent how much God does, but when we do see the results some time later, we may be a bit ashamed we did not trust in Him more!
Points to Ponder:
Are you having trouble with your trust in Christ?
Will you give God a bit more time and lee-way and see what happens?
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October 22: Acts 28:17-31
Key Verse: Acts 28:19
The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.
Devotion:
How many times have you done something hoping it would fix a bad situation only for it to make things worse? I’m sure we have all had things go wrong for us while we have been trying to fix things… this is just what life is like; sometimes we are going to have things go wrong even when we believe they should not.
Paul wanted to be able to tell people all about Jesus, but the more he tried to do this the more he seemed to get into trouble. So much so he ran away to Rome (because he was born as a Romans citizen) so he could get a court to side with him and stop the persecution he felt under.
Sometimes it is a very real persecution we are going to face in our lives, even from the people around us whom we believe should be helping and supporting us. This is not because they have turned bad, gone against us or other things we may think of, but more akin to being in the wrong place at the wrong time as the evil one does his thing!
When we come to our senses and start to see what is really happening, we should set the record straight with the people around us so they do not feel like there is angst between them and us. God wants us to keep the truth in our lives and that sometimes means we have to speak the truth when it will go against the people around us. The truth is better heard now than heard after it is too late!
Points to Ponder:
Do you hold back the truth because you feel hard done by?
Will you share Jesus’ truth before it is too late?