Month: July 2015

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Sacrifices Bigger Than Ourselves

20th July

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters!”

1 John 3:16

Have you had the experience of knowing that something you do is going to cost you in time or money, only to find out after that actually what you did was so appreciated and really touched someones heart? Furthermore have you ever experienced sacrificing what you think is so great to only find out, what you invested impacted the Kingdom of God greatly?

Quite often we think of the cost to ourselves rather than the blessing of others before agreeing to do something for someone else, and quite often when we way up the cost to ourselves and the sacrifices we have to make, it often hinders us from helping someone financially or with our time. Yet if we are to look at the greatest sacrifice of all, we realise that what Jesus gave up for us, turns our sacrifices into insignificance. Jesus sweated blood in the garden of Gethsemane because He knew the greatness of the sacrifice He was going to make for us. He even asked God to take the cup away from Him, yet because of the love He has for us, preserved to death, even on the cursed cross.

However the outcome of His sacrifice was that we can live in peace with God forever and no longer be slaves to sin, fear and death but be called sons and daughters of the most High God. We are set free by the sacrifice He made for us. There too awaits a huge blessing if we to humble ourselves and start putting others needs before our own. Yes there may be a huge sacrifice to make, but the blessings that await cannot be measured. Let Jesus be our perfect example.

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The Maker Of All

18-19th July

Weekend Edition

“Praise the Lord from the Heavens! Praise Him from the skies! Praise Him, all His angels! Praise Him, all the armies of heaven! Praise Him, sun and moon! Praise Him, all you twinkling stars!…..Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for He issued His command, and they came into being!”

Psalm 148:1-5

Recently I read on the news that a satellite had finally got close to the planet Pluto. It set off 9 YEARS ago and travelled a staggering 3,500 MPH. If you think a plane travels around 600-700 MPH and takes around 24 hours to reach Australia from the UK, then you can only begin to realise what a seriously big universe we live in. Moreover, you begin to realise how great God is and begin to understand His time frame is completely above and beyond ours.

If it takes us humans 9 years travelling at 3,500 MPH to reach a planet inside our own solar system, think about how much bigger our God is, who flung the stars and planets into space and by His very breath created life! Seriously just take a minute to think about that…. God is so much more bigger than us, yet He is so personal He even knows how many hairs are on your head, so close He can even feel your heart beat.

Join in with creation and praise the God who made it all. Give your burdens to Him. Trust Him. Trust His judgements. Trust His timing and know that He is great!!

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The Wedding Feast: No-one Knows The Time of His Return But Be Ready

17th July

“Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!” But he called back, “Believe me, I don’t know you!”

Matthew 25:11-12

Yesterday we looked at this wonderful parable in Matthew 25 explaining what it will be like when the Bridegroom (Jesus) comes back for His bride (the church). We finished by looking at the consequence of the five foolish bridesmaid’s actions, in not bringing extra oil for the wedding procession.

It has been said many times by unwise people that we can live wreck less and sinful lives, enjoy the pleasures of sins and deny Jesus until the last day on our death bed where we can repent and all will be well. Unfortunately this is not true and is further highlighted by the warning in this parable. We do not know the time of Jesus’ return (moreover it is not for us to know) but what we can learn from this parable, is that we are to be ready at all times.

Being ready doesn’t just mean outwardly looking ready because even the five foolish brides were dressed correctly. It is not idle waiting but rather it is preparing our hearts daily to meet our maker. We should expectantly be waiting for Jesus’ return, keeping short accounts with both God and man, loving our neighbours and loving God. Being ready is a mind set that helps us to make right decisions. It reminds us not to be friends with sin, but to hate sin. It reminds us to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul.

There is nothing worse than going to church all your life, looking the part, doing your religious duties but living for yourself the rest of the time, if when you reach the Bridegrooms house expecting to enter but instead, the door is locked and His answer is “I don’t know you!”

We are warned to be ready and to keep watch. Remember Jesus is only a prayer away. His love and mercy are new each day, unending and limitless.

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The Wedding Feast: No-one Knows The Time of His Return But Be Ready

16th July

“”But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.”

Matthew 25:10

As we explore this passage found here in Matthew 25:1-13, we are reminded by Jesus that we should always be ready for His return and ready to meet our Bridegroom. We cannot know the exact date of His return but what we do know, is that we are to be ready!

Jesus starts this parable with the common imagery of a Jewish wedding feast. Traditionally in the Jewish wedding feast, the bride would wait for the groom in her house. The groom would go to the bride’s house, where he would ask permission to marry his fiancé and pay a dowry for her. Then the wedding party would start a procession back to the groom’s house where a large feast would take place which depending on the wealth of the groom, could take up to a week to end. The procession usually took place at midnight with guests holding an oil-based lamp attached to a pole to guide them at night.

As Jesus explains to his listeners about the ten bridesmaids waiting for the groom, he highlights a key difference in the ten. The five wise bridesmaids were prepared for the grooms coming (by bringing extra oil) and the five unwise bridesmaids were unprepared (by not having extra oil). Because the groom was delayed, all ten bridesmaids fell asleep. However, suddenly at midnight they were awoken by a loud shout announcing the arrival of the groom. The five wise bridesmaids, having extra oil, lit their torches and joined the procession to the grooms house. However, sadly because of the lack of extra oil, the five foolish bridesmaids missed the procession because they were out buying more oil. They may have looked the part outwardly but because of their unwise preparations they missed the procession to the grooms house.

“Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast….!”

Are you preparing well for your Master’s return?

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Working In Partnership With God

15th July

“Now all the glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:20

It is so great that God can use us to bring about His glorious works in this world and that Jesus may be further known to all people through God’s work in us. Sometimes we may not feel worthy to be used by God, but that is a lie we need to overcome. If we live our lives thinking that we are not worthy to be used by Him, then we will never accomplish anything. Moreover, it is His joy to use broken and imperfect vessels to bring about His glory. If we have confessed our sins, acknowledge that Jesus is Lord publicly and believe in our hearts, then according to the writer of Romans, we are saved. Therefore, if we are saved, we are children of God, and have the awesome privilege of telling others about how great our Father is, regardless of our own situations.

In fact, Paul tells us here in these verses, that we will accomplish far more than we could ever think or ask for. Why? Because it is the power of the living Trinity, working in and through us. We should not act as if we have some special powers, so that we can be glorified when His power works through us. On the contrary, God is to be glorified, Jesus is to be glorified, and the Holy Spirit is to be glorified. God is more than able to work through us despite our faults and failings. He does bless us with supernatural gifts but it is for His glory and not ours.

We must align ourselves to the will of God in our lives, overcoming our self doubt and trusting that God can use us despite of our weaknesses. Let us open our hearts and lives to His mighty power, asking God daily how we can be used to glorify Him on this earth. When He does use us, let our hearts cry out in praise to Him and may all glory go back to the One who made us. We are sons and daughters of God, that is our position in Him.

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“Revenge Is Mine” Says The Lord

14th July

“The the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulphur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:10

Do you get fed up with the daily battle against sin? The constant temptation to dishonour God, the sinful emotions that sometimes rear their ugly head, and the desires to live a lifestyle contrary to God’s best for you? You are not alone. Even the great apostle Paul had areas of weakness (although it doesn’t clearly state that it was sin he struggled with!). Yet we can be greatly encouraged that one day it will end!

There is a reason that God said that vengeance is His. It is because His judgements are always perfect and always in line with His divine will. He is the only One that can pronounce correct judgement on someone else because He is 100% perfect all the time. The greatest of these judgements is when the enemy will finally get defeated once and for all.

His dirty tactics will no longer be able to cause us to stumble. His native language of lies and slander will be silenced. His deceptive and divisive thoughts will no longer we able to tempt us. Pain, sorrow and death will burn with him and all those who have chosen to give themselves to him. There is no fairy tale story for those who want to say yes to the enemy and no to God, who choose to live self satisfying lifestyles here on earth. There is a judgement at the end and the enemy knows his fate already.

Yet for those who believe, for those who give themselves wholly to Jesus, who submit to His ways and commands, there is eternal life. A life without being an enemy of God, without facing His vengeance. An eternal, everlasting life of abiding in the very presence and love of Almighty God. We know how it ends. We are on the winning side. Which side to do you choose?

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God’s Ever-shining Glory

13th July

“For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May Your glory shine over all the earth.”

Psalm 108:4-5

God is so faithful. Because He is so faithful He will always get the glory. He even makes bad situations in our lives work out for good so He gets the glory. The question is do we give Him the praise when bad situations get fixed? Do we give Him the glory and praise He deserves?

If you think that you have run out of things to praise God for then have a read of Psalm 111:4, “He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!” In fact God is so great that “everything He does, reveals His glory and Majesty.” We cannot hide from the majestic works of our God. We cannot run from His mercy and faithfulness. His love is inescapable. His glory shines over all the earth.

As we start a new week, let us think upon the goodness of God. Let us rejoice in the blessings of Almighty. Let us ask God to remind us of anything we have not thanked Him for. When you see His glory, praise Him. He loves to be told how great His works are. He delights in our worshipful admiration. In fact He created the beauty of this world to reveal Himself to His creation. Even if you are facing a challenging situation this week, know that God is already working in your situation, so He can be glorified and you can be set free.

Don’t hold back.. Praise Him.

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The Clock Is Ticking

11th & 12th July

Weekend Edition

 

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8b

In athletic games that are played for a set number of minutes, like basketball and football, the closer the clock gets to the final seconds, the more intense the play becomes. In fact, coaches practice plays to use when time has almost expired. Immediacy increases intensity in athletics—and in spiritual warfare.

The world may never have been in more dire straits than it is now. Revelation 12:12 tells us that the devil “knows that he has [but] a short time” left to disrupt God’s plans on earth. It should come as no surprise that the closer we get to the end of the age and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the more Satan will increase his activity. Wars, discord, disease, strife, immorality, and more are evidence of Satan’s work. But what Jesus started when He came the first time—destroying the works of the devil—will be concluded when He comes again.

The great hope of the Christian is that one day we, and the world, will be free from the attacks of God’s enemy. Satan knows the clock is ticking and that he will one day be removed forever (Revelation 20:10).

Taken from Turning Point Daily Devotions

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Ambassadors In All We Do

10th July

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:17

Yesterday as I was driving to work in our company car, when I realised that I was going to run very late for my appointment. I pushed my foot harder on the accelerator to increase my speed and soon realised I was driving quite fast. It was then it occurred to me that I wasn’t driving my own car but the companies car which actually had a big logo of the school on the side. Interestingly I was so convicted and didn’t want to malign the school name, that I slowed down and ended up being very late. What struck me was that I wasn’t convicted about breaking the law of the land, but more fearful of damaging the school reputation.

As I thought about my actions, of course I repented for driving too fast, but quickly began to analyse how my actions can also bring down or lift up the Name of Christ. Wherever we go, we are always representing Jesus, by word or deed. We are Christ’s ambassadors. We carry the Name of Jesus wherever we go. Our lifestyles, actions and decisions can either bring shame or glory to our Father, after all we are His children.

If we are to truly bring glory to Jesus’ Name then we need to be conscious of the words we speak and the decisions we make, both publicly and privately. We need to include Christ in all we do, lean on His unending grace and ask that in all things He may guide us and lead us. Let us join in with Paul’s wise words and be ‘imitators of Christ’. Let our actions be reflective of a representative of the Lord.

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A New Home: The Future Glory

9th July

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later…creation looks forward to the day it will join in with God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”

Romans 8:18,21b

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and rebellion entered the world, it wasn’t just mankind that faced the curse of sin, but also creation. However when Jesus rose from the dead and defeated sin and death, He broke the curse of sin over our lives. Yet, we still live in a fallen world. Amazingly we have the hope of the promise that one day when Jesus comes back to reign on this earth again, we can experience His full glory and we can live eternally in new bodies and on a new earth.

We may have to suffer at the moment living in a fallen world and our pain and suffering may be great. Yet it will end. The writer of Romans promises that for all who believe, their suffering will end. The glory that awaits is far greater than any suffering we will ever experience. We have a hope of the fullness of knowing what it means to be Christ’s son and daughters. We can know what it means to have new bodies. We can understand what it means to know God in all His fullness.

Let us wait patiently in hope for the fullness of the promise of our salvation. Let us ask for more of the grace of God to live for Him in this fallen world and to love the world He made and all who dwell in it.