Month: March 2017

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I Will Not Be Shaken

18th -19th March

Weekend Edition

“I know that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He right beside me.”

Psalms 16:8

Where is your hope found? Where is your security found? Is it in financial stability or accumulation of possessions? Or is it in Almighty God? The answer to these questions will predict what your reaction will be when tough times come. If your faith, security, strength and hope is found in material things, then when hard times come, you will quickly fall into despair and depression. YET, if your hope is in Jesus, in Almighty God, you will not be shaken when the storm comes, because you know that right beside you, is the creator of the world and the ruler of all things. Knowing He is beside us, gives us the confidence to battle through in victory, through all that is thrown at us.

In theory this works and is truth based in God’s word. Yet we can’t just live a theoretical life, knowing what is truth but never acting upon it. It’s like walking in the rain with an umbrella but never using it to protect you from the rain. In theory it opens up to form a shelter over you, but if you never use it, it’s pointless having it. We must move our faith from just simple theology to practical faith by intentionally asking God to stand by our side, trusting that He is always with us, inviting Him into every part of our lives, into all our worries and storms. God cares. He is with us. He wants to help us. He promised it. God is strength and we will not be shaken!

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The Strength To Go On Comes From Him

17th March

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.”

Psalms 73:26

Are you feeling at the end of your strength? Is your faith running low and body feeling weak? Well, if that’s you, then it’s ok. We all have days when our faith is stretched. Sometimes we even feel like giving up. Look throughout the Bible, and you will see plenty of examples when men and women of God, had a ‘wobbly day’ and felt faithless and weak. Yet God is faithful. He doesn’t judge us for this but rather scoops down and catches our falling souls in the palm of His hand, dusts us off, showers us in His love, empowers us in His Spirit and strengthens our hearts to keep on keeping on.

When tough times come, when you feel like giving up, know this simple yet life changing truth, ‘GOD remains the strength of your heart’. He is with us and promised to never leave us, even when we feel like He has. He is there. Take courage and strength from this. The writer of this psalm had the confidence to believe so, and so can we know for sure. He is ours forever. Be at peace.

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Not A Physical Battle But A Spiritual War

16th March

“Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given Me?”

John 18:10-11

Who says that the Bible is boring? It’s full of love, action and captivating stories of faith and endurance that can keep you going for hours. Yet more than just for entertainment purposes, it has the power to transform your life with its eternal truths.

Jesus in today’s verse, highlights to us, the readers, that His arrest, firstly was not supposed to be a physical fight, but a spiritual battle, and secondly, it was not that Jesus couldn’t defend Himself, but rather that He chose to humbly surrender Himself for the sake of humanity; a fact highlighted by Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:53, when He said, “Don’t you realise that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?” Jesus knew that He had to die for the sins of the world. This further shows us that Jesus’ fully and sacrificially laid down His life down for us, to win us the greatest victory of all time: victory over sin and death.

We too now live in this victory; a victory not won by physical strength or prowess, but won in humility and sacrificial love. We also are not in a physical battle but a spiritual war against the enemy and his angels. Yet, as Christ’s death and resurrection boldly and clearly tells us, victory is already ours. We fight from a place of victory not for victory. So put your physical sword back in its sheath, put on your armour of God, and fight not for victory but from victory. The battle has been won and we are fruits of that triumph.

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The God Who Fights For Us

15th March

““I told you that I AM HE,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.””

John 18:8

Even in the midst of Jesus’ weakest point, He was still interceding and fighting for His disciples. People often say that Jesus was a weak man, a frail figure, who couldn’t even protect Himself, yet when we read the Bible, the picture of Jesus, is far from that imagery. On the contrary, the image of Jesus in today’s verse, is more like Jesus is an army general, defending His troops and surrendering for the greater good of humanity. Even surrounded by the temple guard and Roman soldiers, He still had the courage to protect His disciples, demanding that they be set free. Although this statement was a fulfilment of scripture as a prophetic moment, it still highlights, that Jesus never gave up and never stop caring about His disciples. We too are today included in that. Jesus never stops caring about us, even more so now that He is sitting down at the right hand of the Father, in complete victory. Jesus showed us what love looked like. It was love in action. Even when He knew that He was about to be beaten and killed for murders and thieves, who wouldn’t even recognise His act of love, He still looked out for the vulnerable and put others before Himself. That is the Jesus we call King!

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I AM HE!

14th March

“Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” He asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I AM He,” Jesus said. (Judas who betrayed Him was standing with them). As Jesus said “I AM He,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!”

John 18:4-6

Jesus, with the rest of His disciples (bar Judas), crossed over the Kirdon Valley entering an olive grove (otherwise known as the garden of tears). It is there that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of His disciples, for a few silver coins. Yet what is intriguing about this exchange between Jesus and the Roman soldiers and Temple guards, is that after they asked where Jesus the Nazarene was and Jesus replied with ‘I AM HE’, they drew back and fell to the ground. Could it just have been through mere surprise that Jesus had given Himself up so quickly and easily? One would think not!

The only plausible argument is that Jesus’ words were full of such power and authority when He spoke, a fact highlighted by the Bible itself as in most versions, the ‘I AM He’ is capitalised, highlighting its importance. Yet more than how it is written, is the words Jesus spoke. The ‘I AM’ statement, often spoken by Jesus throughout the gospel of John, highlights Jesus supreme authority and equality with God Himself. Remember when Jesus said that before Abraham was ‘I AM’, or when He said, ‘I AM’ the way, the truth and the life, the true vine, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the door, the light of the world and the bread of life1. Jesus again highlights to us in these verses, that even in His weakest and most vulnerable moments, He is who He said He was, He is our God and King, He is the great I AM. That is why they fell back, because the King of the earth and universe was addressing them.

1John 6:35,48, 8:12. 9:5, 8:58, 10:9, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1

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In The World But Not Of It

13th March

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

Did you know that when a salmon is ready to start spawning, it returns from the great ocean, swims upstream and returns to the place that it itself was spawned. Sometimes the distance it swims from the ocean to the river, can be almost around 900 miles (1400km)1. The ‘Salmon run’ often can be used to describe the life of a believer returning to our real home. We are born in this world, but as Jesus says in John 17 verse 14, ‘we are not of this world’! Our home is heaven. Although we are not of this world, we do live in it. Yet just because we live in it, it doesn’t mean that we have to follow its ways. The writer of Romans encourages us to be like the ‘salmon’ and to actually swim against the currents, the behaviours and customs of this world, by letting God transform us! How does God do this? By changing the way we think.

As we grow in our walk with God, He becomes all we think about. When we focus on Him, the behaviours, patterns and customs of this world, fall away as we are transformed into Godly living. If truth be told, it is much easier to live the way everyone else lives, following their sinful lifestyles. But God has called us to swim against that current and to stand firm against things that try to push us away from Him. Moreover, Jesus Himself prayed for us that we would have the strength to stand firm. He prayed ‘not that we would be taken out of the world’ but rather that we ‘be kept safe from the evil one’2. As you swim upstream, as you swim against the currents and behaviour patterns of this world, know that the King of Kings is willing you on. Be strong and courageous. Be blessed. Let your mind be transformed by Jesus!

2Paraphrased from John 17:15

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How To Get Eternal Life?

11th & 12th March

Weekend Edition

“For You have given Him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one You have given Him. And this is the way to have eternal life – to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent to earth.”

John 17:2-3

Millions of people have searched endlessly and tirelessly to find the answer to today’s question in the title of this devotion. Un-told films have been made, countless songs written and even religions invented to try to get the answer of eternal life. Some say you have to do ‘this ritual or that ritual’ to get eternal life, some say you don’t have to do anything at all other than be in a constant meditative state of self cleansing.

Yet if people would just look to God, the source of all truth, they would find the answer they are looking for. There is no hidden text that needs to be decrypted by an Indiana Jones type quest. They is no need even for it to be for debate.

The answer is simple; so simple that even children can understand. Jesus said plainly and clearly, in His prayer to His Father, moments before He would be betrayed by Judas, that the way to eternal life is ‘by knowing the Father’ and ‘Jesus Christ’. Eternal life is found in knowing the Godhead. This also is not some mystic path to follow but an invitation to accept. God helps us to get to know Him – He invites us to get to know Him. He gave us His Holy Spirit so that the Spirit would lead us into a deeper relationship with Him. Praise God, that we can have eternal life through our relationship with Him.

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The Grace Of God Leads To…

March 10th

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.”

Titus 2:10

Grace. Grace is one of those words, that even when you say it, it sounds loving, kind and accepting (perhaps that’s why it is used so much in people’s names). And that is all grace is. It is the loving, kind and accepting gift of God, that turns us from our sins and leads us to His everlasting life. It is God’s revealed grace that leads to salvation.

God’s grace is unlimited and is always available to those who call on His Name. God’s grace says, you get what you don’t deserve (salvation and forgiveness), and don’t get what you do deserve (punishment). God’s grace says yes you have messed up but here, I forgive you; have another chance to put it right. God’s grace says, I have chosen you to be my child. It is God’s grace that sustains the universe and everything surrounding us. Yet above all, God’s grace is birthed from His love for us. His grace empowers us to live righteously for Him.

Friends, God’s grace is readily available. It is never too late to turn to Him. His grace is impartial and not dependant on if you deserve it or not. Let God’s grace lead you to salvation and fill your heart with love, kindness and acceptance.

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Trust In The Lord

9th March

“Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”

Isaiah 26:4

Whom have we but the Lord? Whom else can we trust? Who else holds our lives in the palm of their hands? Who else is sovereign, mighty, powerful and majestic? Who else can be a solid foundation when storms come, other than the Lord God almighty? There really is none other than our God. Yes He is our God, on our side, fighting for us, interceding for us, healing us, saving us and making us more like Him. There is no one else who can be consistently faithful like God is. Why put your trust in anyone or anything other than God?

Even Isaiah knew this truth. He knew that if the people of Israel surrounded themselves in the shelter of Almighty God, then no harm would come to them, no enemy will be able to prevail against them. No-one will be able to come between their relationship with God. Friends that promise is real today too. Put your trust in the King. He is our eternal Rock! Nothing can shake us from the foundation we have in Him.

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The Pain Won’t Last

8th March

 

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

John 16:20

Jesus’ death truly does conjure images of grief and mourning amongst believers. It is sad that Jesus had to physically be beaten and tortured to pay for our sins. It is sad that an innocent man had to die for us. It is sad that our God and King was made a mockery of. BUT, as Jesus said, our weeping and mourning is now over, and our grief has been turned into wonderful joy, because He has been resurrected!! He is alive!! Jesus likened this pain and joy to the metaphor of a woman giving birth. When a woman is in labour, giving birth to her child, she suffers with great pain. But, as soon as the child is born, the pain is quickly swept away with the emotion of joy and happiness at the sight of their new born child.

Friends, don’t stay mourning for a dead man, but rejoice in a resurrected King. He is no longer in the grave. He is alive and He lives in us. Let us cast our pains and burdens to Him, because He lives. Let receive and walk in the joy that comes from worshipping our resurrected King.