Wednesday 5^th December

Romans 8:31-39

Please take time out in your day to read these wonderful truths in Gods word. Today’s devotional comes as a summary of a message I heard that greatly encouraged my soul and I pray that it may encourage you too.

Paul starts this entry in Romans 8 with these rhetorical questions. I have taken the liberty to answer them and I hope your answer would be the same.

If God is for us then who can be against us?? NO ONE

Who can accuse Gods chosen people?? NO ONE

Who can condemn them?? NO ONE

Who shall separate us from THE LOVE OF GOD?? ABSOLUTELY NO ONE

Paul then proceeds to bring it closer to home. He writes these questions from his own experiences.

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or death threats?? ABSOLUTELY NO

If anyone is qualified to answer these questions then it is Paul. He faced every single one of these trials yet he knew that through it all, not one of these things could separate him from Gods love (2 Corinthians 11:33-23). In fact he summarises his point in this profound statement in verse 37 “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”.  What a great truth. Paul is saying that if we cling on to Gods unconditional love through Christ Jesus in times of trials, then we become more than conquerors. “God didn’t promise us that we wouldn’t face trials but He did promise that He will be with us through them and that His love would carry us throughout it” (David Jeremiah). It is when we come out of our trials that we become MORE than conquerors. We can say that in all our money problems, marital trials, abusive relationships, unruly children or job troubles, that through everything we face and overcome, because of Gods consistent love towards us, we are MORE than victorious and live in the faith that it cant separate from Gods love.

Paul then further highlights his point by using extreme opposites to emphasise that absolutely nothing can separate us from Gods love. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55, that death no longer has a ‘sting’ on the believer as Christ has conquered death and in verse 35 he states that life’s trials are no match for Gods love. He then says that no angel or demon (rulers or powers) can separate us from His love, as every authority comes from God and is submissive to Gods Ultimate Authority! Furthermore, our fears of tomorrow or the problems of today cannot separate us from His love; nor the heights of Heaven to the depths of hell and everything in between, is there anything that can separate us from Gods love. And if all that was not clear enough Paul emphatically summarises his point by adding that if there is any other created thing (for all things are created by God) then that too cannot separate from Gods love.

What amazing and encouraging truth. There is absolutely nothing that can separate us from Gods love. His love is unconditional for all, from the greatest sinner, to the most holy saint. His love is not dependant on us. His love is consistent. His love never changes.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

Tuesday 4^th December

Acts 4:1-12

“There is no other Name by which men can be saved” Acts 4:12

In one of the most remarkable passages in the book of Acts, Peter and John presented to the council, share the gospel in what is called the ‘clearest evangelistic statement’ in the New Testament.

Peter and John in Acts chapter 3, on their way to the Temple to pray, meet a man lame from birth at the Temple gate. He had been lame for more than forty years and begged at the Temple gate for his daily provisions. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for money but they replied with this great statement. “Silver and gold we do not have, but we will give you what we do have. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk” (3:4-6). That statement should encourage all believers. The power of the Name of Jesus was so evident. It changed this lame mans life. But in every demonstration of Jesus’ power in the book of Acts there was always some who opposed it.

Shortly after Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned over night. Sadly the Religious leaders could not see God’s miraculous power and how it changed lives. Instead they presented Peter and John before the Sanhedrin and questioned by what power it was that this lame man was healed. Pause. I call these evangelism moments. When someone asks you something about God, it gives a perfect opportunity to share the gospel and in this text Peter did just that.

Peter, importantly ‘being filled with the Holy Spirit’, (the Holy Spirit gave him boldness to preach), answered the Religious leaders with a statement that shakes nations even today!! Peter must have been rubbing his hands at firstly being presented with an opportunity to share the gospel plainly with the Pharisees and Scribes, but secondly at the manner in which they presented this opportunity. Peter boldly proclaims in verse 8 – 12 that it was in fact through the power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man they agreed to crucify but whom God raised from the dead on the third day, that the lame man was healed.  He then states that Salvation is found in no one else and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved. Just stop wherever you are and take that in….. Jesus’ Name is not only enough to heal from physical sickness but has the power to save us from our sins.

The Religious leaders totally missed the point. They knew that a miraculous sign had been performed (verse 16) yet they wanted to focus on their pride and Laws instead in the liberty given by Christ. They were employed to be leaders to the Jews to teach the ways of God, yet they were doing the opposite and teaching the ways of men. Yet the number of believers increased to 5000 men, excluding women and children (verse 4) after Peter and John had presented the gospel, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Daily Prayer

Lord I pray that we would have opportunities to share the gospel plainly with those around us. Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit so we may proclaim boldly the message of Your Son Jesus Christ; that all men may be saved through Him. Amen 

Monday 3^rd December

Hebrews 12:1-3

“It is not how you start the race, but how you finish, that determines your prize” Anon

Wait!! Don’t give up!! You might have slipped at a hurdle but trust me you can get back up, you don’t have to stay down. If you don’t trust me then trust God and His word. The passage we are going to explore today tells of One who has already run the race and the best news is, He won!

The writer of Hebrews explains to his listeners the great truth about perseverance and patience on life’s race of endurance. It is not a sprint or 200m race but a lifelong race. Along the track there are many hurdles but none that cannot be overcome. In fact the writer starts but talking of many who have gone before us. The Greek word used for crowd is ‘nephos’, which basically means a throng/multitude that covers the heavens. The exciting thing about these ‘Heroes of faith’ is that they are all familiar people who have stumbled and got back up to run the race. These people are found in the previous chapter, chapter 11.

In chapter 11 we have people like king David, who murdered Uriah and impregnated his wife. Gideon who tested God 3 times before allowing himself to be used and Sarah who doubted that God would allow her to conceive. Yet all these people are commended for their faith. Why?? because they kept going. So verse 1 immediately quashes any doubts in our minds that we should give up because we have a ‘throng’ of witnesses who were humans just like us, stumbled but got back up and live in history as an example to us.

We are encouraged in the rest of verse 1 to take off every burden, sin and weight that holds us back from running. If that’s you, if there are things weighing you down, take a reality check!! Get rid of them. Put them at the feet of Jesus. Give them to Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7) and then you’ll be able to run freely again.

Notice another word of importance is the word endurance (ibomenos), which means ‘patience’. This again highlights this is not a race to see who can finish it quickest but one that you must never give up on. It’s not to say that we must stay idle or become lazy but rather RUN with patience.

The writer then helps us to re-align our focus. By looking at Jesus we not only take our eyes of our circumstances that make us trip at every hurdle but we have in Him One who has finished the race with excellence. Did He face the same hurdles we face? Yes. Did He stumble or sin? No. Verse 3 tells us that because He went through hostility and temptations, He can help us when we become weary and discouraged. Jesus knew what He had to do; He knew the end of His race was to sacrifice Himself for mankind. Yet He considered it His joy to carry on and run with ‘ibomenos’. His prize is that He now sits at the right hand of the Father and stands as an intercessor for us helping us to run ourselves. The prize, Heaven!!

Saturday 1^st December

Psalm 1

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with the mockers” verse 1 (NLT)

This Psalm is one of my favourites as it stands as a constant reminder for reassessing my motives and steering the direction of my life. The words written here by the Psalmist are so elegantly written but highlight the deep underlying message of Holiness and Obedience to Gods word. Among the metaphorical pictures, we find treasures that always bring us back to the right path.

This wonderful psalm starts with a warning to not be around sinners, not to follow their advice or to join in with their mocking. The NKJV version describes this as a journey through sinful counsel, to walking in the path of sinners and then sitting in the seat of the scornful. The Psalmist tells his readers that a great joy awaits those who stay away from such things. This is not to say that we cannot have friends who are sinful or simply never talk to them. On the contrary, Jesus often reminded us of His heart for the lost in His teaching. However there is a difference in befriending the lost and joining in with mockers, listening to their un-Godly advice. This becomes a downward spiral from firstly being ill advised to finding ourselves sitting and joining in with mockers.

The answer?? God’s word. The law stands as a reminder to those who read it of what God’s Holy standards are. Meditating on Gods Word is not a legalistic duty but rather a measure of Spiritual discipline in the believers life to re-focus our walk with God and remember that although He is our Father and Friend, He is also an all Consuming Fire whose standard of perfection was displayed through His Son Jesus Christ. The Psalmist promises that those who listen to Gods Word rather than sinful advice will not only prosper in all they do but build their life’s foundation on solid ground.

The Psalmist uses the imagery of a tree planted by the riverbank whose leaves never wither and always produces fruit in its seasons. There is so much meaning that can be taken from this image. Looking at the trees around us in this cold December day, we see they have lost their leaves, preparing for the winter season. However in this picture, we see a tree that’s leaves never fall and always produces fruit each season. This signifies prosperous living, not just financially but in our daily Spiritual lives. However we are reminded that this only comes from deepening our roots in the nutrients that come from the riverbank, Gods Word.

Our foundation is Jesus Christ. Our roots are His Words. Our motives and standards should be measured not only by the Law but by our desire to become more like Christ. God gives us His mercy and grace to become more like Him, but that is an active response to His Word. 

Friday 30^th November

Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41 

This great story not only shows the magnitude of Gods greatness but also teaches us a valuable lesson for our own lives. It starts in a boat, probably a fishing boat, as His disciples were mostly fisherman. The location is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was weary from His travels and wanted some rest from the multitudes so He climbed into the boat with His disciples.

Verse 24 describes a tempestuous storm that greets Jesus and the disciples. Jesus stays sleeping and the disciples panic and cry out to Jesus to rescue them. Marks gospel (4:38), adds that the disciple’s criticise Jesus for not caring that they were perishing. Jesus’ response is to firstly rebuke the disciples for their lack of faith and then commands the waves and storm to be still. Upon the calmness of the sea and storm, the disciples can but marvel at the power of the Man who is with them.

There are three main points to highlight from this passage. The first is the fear of the disciples, the second their lack of faith and the third Jesus’ power to calm the storm.

When I read this passage, I often wonder why the disciples were so fearful. Most of them were seasoned fisherman who most probably faced storms like this on a regular basis. Why were they so fearful in this storm? Was the storm really that terrible? We will understand this more as we highlight the next point.

Jesus, upon being woken up, immediately rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith and asked them why they were afraid! In my understanding of this passage, I believe that Jesus does not rebuke their lack of faith because they couldn’t calm the seas, but rather because they forgot who was in the boat with them. In Matthew chapter 8 in the preceding verses to today’s text, we read that Jesus healed a leper, healed a centurion’s servant, healed Peters mother in law and cast out demons from possessed people. In all these scenarios the disciples would have most probably been with Jesus. And now here a few verses later they forget who is with them in the boat. Not only did they forget Jesus’ miraculous powers but they didn’t have the full knowledge of who Jesus was and His mission. If Jesus perished in the boat with the disciples then humanity would never be saved from their sins because Jesus had to be put to death, rather than accidently die at sea. In not understanding whom Jesus was, the disciples panicked and acted in their flesh. I believe that this is what Jesus rebuked them for. 

So who was Jesus? Jesus was God incarnate, Immanuel ‘God with us’. In proving His authority over creation, He showed His disciples who He was. Again in Marks gospel Jesus simply tells the storm to be at peace. What an amazing sight that would have been and what authority is shown here. However Jesus’ greatest miracle was on the third day after His death when He defeated sin and its hold on humanity. Praise God that we not only serve a God who can calm the storm in our life but who made a way back to the Father!

Thursday 29^th November

Luke 2:25-33

“Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

The feeling when something great is about to happen causes us to have a sense of expectancy and anticipation. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get overly excited and then when the situation does not actually happen there is such an anti-climatic feeling that not only leads us into despondency but also into bitterness or anger.

Simeon, a righteous and just man, was in anticipation for the greatest event in history. He knew of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah who would redeem Israel. Simeon, most probably a priest in the temple as he blessed Jesus according to the Mosaic Law, was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not face death until he had seen the Christ. Can you imagine his anticipation of knowing that firstly he would see Immanuel before his death but that secondly, he himself would get to see the One who had been promised to Israel in prophetic writings throughout history?

Prompted by the Holy Spirit to go the temple that glorious day, Simeon’s expectant heart was overjoyed and not let down at the sight of the Child that was going to bring Salvation to the world. Luke describes in verses 29 and 30 the joy and contentment Simeon had at seeing the ‘Child Jesus’. He had full assurance that his ‘eyes had seen Gods Salvation’. What a scene that must have been, the jubilation and celebration Simeon must have felt. This was a divinely appointed moment in history.

Simeon states that Jesus will bring salvation to all people, both Jew and Gentile. He knew that Jesus was God incarnate and that not only was Jesus going to redeem Israel but also that all peoples might be saved through Him. Joseph and Mary in verse 33 marvelled at such news. Reading this text should excite the reader as well, as one joins in this joyous occasion.

However there is a greater truth in this that goes beyond Simeon revelation or excitement. That truth is this; Not only did Jesus bring revelation to both Gentile and Jew (verse 32), He paid the ransom that was due to us. Simeon might have expected, as did most Jews, redemption from Roman oppression. However Jesus brought more than political freedom, He gave humankind a way that we can be saved from our sins. He bridged the gap between God and Man. He gave us life and life in its fullness. No longer do we need to live a life on our own but now we can walk in liberty and freedom as “God with us” has set us free. Whom the Son set free is free indeed (John 8:36).

Simeon may not of expected what Jesus accomplished by giving His life for mankind yet He was still jubilant at the sight of Jesus. How much more should we be excited by KNOWING Jesus as our Saviour, having Him live in our lives? Lets get excited about Jesus Christ, Immanuel, the Saviour of the world!

Wednesday 28^th November

Lamentations 3:21-23

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness O Lord, great is Thy faithfulness.” Robert Davidson: 1974

A few years ago whilst in a low period of my life a friend of mine sent me a text message with this verse. It pointed not in the direction of my circumstance but towards a faithful God. It encouraged my soul greatly, however it is not until recently that I fully understood this text in all its fullness. Looking at this text as it is, the believer can be encouraged at these words but when understood in its full context, the writings deepen in value and meaning.

Jeremiah was the most probable author of the book of lamentations. It was written in the time of Gods judgement towards Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. This book is a book of prayer and laments at what Judah had become. The captivity had been prophesied about for many years yet Jeremiah was still filled with great pain and sorrow. The first few chapters start with Jeremiahs lament at the condition of Jerusalem. His words are so deep and so full of sorrow. A once great and prosperous city where the temple of the Most High stood in boldness, a place where the Lord dwelt, was now in disastrous ruins. His mourning was even more sorrowful as he himself had begged with Judah to repent and turn from their ways to prevent Gods righteous judgement towards them.

In a situation where all hope was lost, Jeremiah found himself encouraging his soul with these words in today’s reading. The NLT says in verse 21 ‘Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this.’ Jeremiah had to shake himself from the ground and remember what a faithful God he had. He says of the Lord in the next few verses that because of His faithfulness and His tender mercies they would not be totally consumed. He knew that God had promised that captivity was only for a time and he encouraged himself with this truth (Jeremiah 32:37-41). Jeremiah says in verse 23, “Great is His faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning”. In the midst of turmoil, persecution, captivity, total destruction and ruin, Jeremiah knew that Gods mercy would prevail. He encouraged himself and his readers knowing that the Lord wanted the best for His children and that God, at the start of His judgement towards Judah had already began the plan of Salvation and freedom.

What a great reminder to us today. Are you going through something in your life that you think has no end or that there is not a glimmer of hope? Then your eyes should be fixated not on your situation but on God faithfulness. When our focus is on God and His Faithfulness, He becomes bigger and our problems become smaller. Know you are His child and live in His hope, joy and love.

“If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

2 Timothy 2:13

Tuesday 27^th November

Luke 15:11-32

“For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost but now is found.” (verse 32)

The NLT starts this story off with the profound statement…’to illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story’. Although this statement is not found in most other translations, I think it really does justice to the context of these parables and emphasises Jesus’ point; His love for the lost. If we remember back to the beginning of this chapter Jesus is addressing the sinners and Pharisees. He highlights that it is the lost who need saving and that His association with them, although against Rabbinical teaching, was exactly how He could save them; by meeting them where they were.

This teaching is found in the very core of this third and final parable. The story in brief, is of a man who had two sons. One decides to go and spend his inheritance on wild living and prostitutes. After squandering all his share of the wealth, he finds a job feeding pigs. The depth of poverty the son had was so low that verse 16 tells us that his employers wouldn’t even give him the pigs food. Upon coming to his senses he realises that he would be better off in his father’s house as a servant. He returns home to be greeted by his loving father who runs out to meet him. A party is thrown and he is reinstated as a SON. His brother is indignant at this and doesn’t recognise what’s happened.

The changing point in this story happens when the son comes to the realisation at his circumstance. Without the father he is lost. That is much the same with us. The Holy Spirit’s job in our lives is to convict us of our sinful state and show us how depraved we are without Jesus. When the son finally makes the move to go home his father is waiting for him to receive him back. Again the same with us, when we come or come back to the Father He not only is waiting but lavishes His glorious love upon us.

The father in the story reinstates his son and gives him three significant gifts to show that. A robe which symbolised honour, a ring which showed authority and sandals to show his status was of a son not a servant. God the Father not only accepts us back but also gives us the honour of being His children by adopting us into His family. Not longer are we alien to God but sons and daughters.

The older brother in this story symbolises the Pharisees. They show no compassion for the sinner but rather hypercritical accusations against others whilst living in sin themselves. The brother had all rights to his father’s possessions and temple riches constantly surrounded the Pharisees, yet both missed out on the real treasure enjoyed by a repentant sinner.

In conclusion Gods excitement, joy and desire is to see those lost come back to Him. His love for both sinner and saint is consistent and unconditional! He never leaves us and is always waiting for our hearts to respond to Him in true repentance.

Monday 26^th November

Luke 15:8-10

“I once was lost but now I’m found” (Amazing Grace – John Newton: 1779)

In continuing with the theme of being lost and found Jesus explains this simple parable to again emphasise the Father’s heart for the lost being found. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus uses three separate parables to share His heart for the lost?

In verses 8-10 Jesus uses the story of a woman who has lost 1 of her 10 coins. She sweeps the house and turns it upside down to find that precious coin and when she eventually finds she is overjoyed. She is so joyful in her finding this coin that she invites her friends over to join with her in her celebrations. Jesus concludes this parable with the same imagery as found in the previous parable of the lost shepherd. He relays the great joy in Heaven and among the angels at a person, repenting and finding salvation.

Jesus understood the value a denarius/drachma would have had in an Ancient Israeli society. It was equivalent to a day’s wages. Her total wealth was 10 coins, which would have equated to 10 days labour. She most probably did not have a great amount of wealth, which is shown through the desperation in finding this 1 lost coin.

Houses in Jesus’ time would have been dusty and dirty and when something was lost such as a small coin it would have proved very difficult to find. There were not usually many windows in the house so Jesus reminds His listeners that in order to find something that was lost, one would have also had to light a lamp to aid them. All this highlights to the crowd how hard it would have been to find this coin and the great lengths and efforts she puts it to find it.

If the woman represents God and the coin humanity/us, then we can understand the great extents Jesus went through for us; that we may be found and recognised as sons and daughters of the Most High God. Our lives without Christ are so far from Gods original plan for humanity. We are dirty and are hidden by the darkness in our hearts. We hide in the corners of society, living our lives constantly running away from God and sometimes even doing this unconsciously and in ignorance.  In John’s gospel (1:5), he describes Jesus as a great light exposing the darkness. Jesus’ mission as we talked about in the last devotional was to seek and save the lost. In doing this He exposed the darkness and brought what was in the dark, to the light.

That is why there is such jubilation at one soul repenting (action is needed on our behalf too) and coming into Salvation. That is Jesus’ mission being completed on this earth. The light shining in dark places, exposing what it is evil and allowing what was once in that darkness to be found. Praise God that He never gives up on us and that His omnipotence shines through our secret places.

Saturday 24^th November

Luke 15:1-7

Have you ever been so excited about something that you can’t contain it and you feel like your going to burst?? As sad as it is sometimes I get that feeling at the anticipation and excitement of the new film ‘The Hobbit’. Yes, I know that’s sad but it got me thinking about something much more exciting than a film release.

In Luke 15 Jesus, surrounded not only by society’s rejects but also the Pharisees and Scribes, begins to explain God’s heart for mankind. His excitement is told through these three successive parables whereby Jesus explains His desire to see the lost found. Jesus writes these parables in response to criticism from the Pharisees and Scribes who thought themselves to holy to associate with ‘sinners’. Jesus’ heart for ‘sinners’ is clearly shown in this chapter as He Highlights His priority in not only ‘socialising’ with sinners but that through Him they might find a way back to the Father. In Luke 19:10 Jesus says that He came for the lost, that they might be found.

The first of these parables is found in today’s reading in verses 3-7. Jesus uses a common imagery of a shepherd and sheep. He tells a story of a shepherd whilst tending his flock, loosing a sheep that’s gone astray. Then comes his dilemma. Does he leave the ninety-nine to go after the one who’s lost or go home with the ninety-nine and forget about the one? The shepherd does the right thing and searches for the lost sheep. When he finds it he is filled with such great joy and throws a party with his friends. Jesus says that this is the same joy found in Heaven when a sinner turns back to God.

The shepherd in this story can be interpreted as God and the sheep as us. God’s joy comes not in the ninety-nine who have not strayed but in the one who is found and comes back to Him. That is not to say the ninety-nine are not of importance to Him but rather His excitement is found in His desire for those lost to be reconciled with the Father.

What a great picture of a kind and loving Father. This parable reminds me of an old comic book narrating different stories in the Bible. One of the stories is this parable and the illustration of it still stays in my mind of a kind, gentle and loving shepherd with the lost sheep on his shoulders. That image should stand as a representation to us that Gods desire for all of us, no matter how lost of far away we are, is to come back to Him.

But notice this parable unlike the prodigal son parable is the shepherd going out to seek the lost sheep. If you think that God has just left you, that you have gone too far from Him or that you are beyond being found, then think again because that is contrary to what this parable is teaching us. His desire is for you to be found and not only that; He is willing to meet you where you are. Just hold on to the shepherds’ rod and let Him pull you back!!