daily readings

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At My Worst, God Gave His Best

21st – 22nd November

Weekend Edition

“But God showed His great love for us by sending His Son Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Romans 5:8

Last week I stumbled across these wonderful song lyrics by a band called Rend Collective. They are taken from a song called ‘One and Only’. It is a song about the goodness of God and His glorious grace. As I listened to the song in the car, one of the verses just jumped out at me.

Who is this man upon a cross?
Who left His throne to ransom us?
Who died to save us at our worst?
And rose to give us Heaven’s best

These wonderful song lyrics really do summarise the grace of an amazing God who pours liberally showers His grace over us. For it is while we were still sinners that Christ died for us. God saved at our worst, ransomed us from death and rose on the 3rd day to give us eternal life and an intimate relationship with God the Father.

May we rejoice today in our resurrected King, in His incredible grace and His free gift of salvation. It is, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:6, only by Jesus Christ our Lord “through whom all things were created and through whom we live.” Rejoice, His grace has saved you at your worst, giving you Heaven’s best. It is by Christ’s grace we are saved and Christ’s grace we are sustained. He created all things and it is through Him that we live.

 

 

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The Presence

20th November

“The one thing I ask of the Lord – the one thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His temple.”

Psalm 27:4

In the Old Testament days, many Jews believed that God’s very presence was only found in the Temple. It was at the Temple that people could make their sacrifices for their sins, it was there that they could pray and there they could seek an answer from God about various issues. However, David knew that God’s presence was so much more than being limited to a man made tabernacle or place of worship. Yes the temple, in Old Testament times was God’s tangible presence on earth, but David wanted more, he knew more of what intimacy with God was like. He knew that in God’s house, he would be safe, hear from God, and be able to sit in the very presence of the Almighty.

We, living in the age of grace, have been given an even greater opportunity to be in God’s presence. Why? Because He lives in us. We became the temple and home for God Himself. Our heart is God’s home. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” Because we have the amazing gift of grace, we don’t have to go to a ‘temple’ to seek God’s presence, because His very presence lives in us. Moreover, God’s presence is available all the time. The doors are never shut, God is never asleep and His ears are always attentive.

David knew the beauty of God’s holiness, he knew the beauty of God’s temple and the privilege and security that His presence brings. Do you know what an incredible privilege it is to be able to call upon the Name of Jesus wherever you are, whatever the circumstance and whatever the time?

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David’s Confidence

19th November

“The Lord is my light and salvation – so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid…. EVEN IF I AM ATTACKED, I WILL REMAIN CONFIDENT.”

Psalm 27:1-3

David knew that his hope was in God. Throughout his life, time and time again, we see a complete reliance and trust in God, to guard and protect him and lead him in the right path. Today’s psalm is another fine example of David’s confidence in the Lord God Almighty.

David starts this psalm with an affirmation of who God is. His God was not built by human hands, carved out wood or drawn up in an imagination. His God was the One, True and Living God. His God was his ‘light and salvation’ and a ‘fortress’ to ‘give protection from danger‘. David knew who his God was. Furthermore, because of that reason, he could fully trust Him in times of trouble and danger (of which David had a lot of).

Yet the words that stand out above all, are found in verse 3… Even if I am attacked, I will still remain confident in you God. David was sure that God would be with him always. He declared that even if he got attacked, he would still be confident and keep his trust in God. He knew that even there, he would be secure in the Lord. He had complete trust that God would protect him from danger, but also that if danger did come knocking at his door, he again would be confident in the Lord’s deliverance, comfort and security.

How about you? Do you know who your God is? Are you confident that no matter what happens in your life, you can still say God is your Light and Salvation and a Fortress from the enemy? The best place to be, is fully reliant on the Lord, no matter what your circumstances are. He may not always keep us from danger, but He promises to be with us, even in our darkest times.

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Seventy Time Seven

18th November

“Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy time seven!”

Matthew 18:21-22

In Matthew chapter 18, Peter approaches Jesus and asks Him how many times he should forgive someone who has wronged him. Peter seeming generous, gives a figure of seven times. Yet what was to happen the eighth time someone wronged him? Did his grace run out? Jesus’ reply did not specifically mean that we should only forgive someone 490 times, but rather it was a principle that just as much as we are forgiven, so we should forgive others with that same forgiveness. In other words, God’s grace and forgiveness, as David rightly said in his psalms, flow from the east to the west and from the heavens to earth; such is the measure of God’s grace, love and forgiveness – UNLIMITED.

Jesus then proceeds to tell a parable about a man imprisoned by his debt, shown grace by his debtor, released from his debt, then that same man, imprisoning his own servant for a lesser debt owed to him. The morale of the story is, that we should show the same forgiveness to others as we have received ourselves.

Indeed our sins have been greatly forgiven. God daily washes our sins clean if we ask for His forgiveness. His grace never runs and is not limited to a finite number. It is infinite. As one writer eloquently writes..

We must always keep in mind that there is no place we can go that God’s grace   cannot reach, and there is no depth to which we can sink that God is no longer able to pull us out. His grace is greater than all of our sin. Whether we are just starting to wander off course or we are already sinking and drowning in our sin, grace can be received.1

God is good. If you have sinned and don’t feel worthy of God’s grace today, then think again. You are, because of Jesus. Just reach out to Him, let Him heal your wounds, fill you with grace and restore you once more. Then with the forgiveness you have received, forgive others too.

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The Power Of United Prayer

17th November

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are One – as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You have sent Me.”

John 17:20-21

Have you ever been praying for something for a long time then hear good news that what you prayed for has finally come to fruition? A lost friend? A new job? Healing? Incredibly our prayers never fall on deaf ears. It may be instantaneous or take a while but God honours persistent prayers. None more so, than His own Son’s prayer found in John 17 (we are fruit of His prayer)!

Jesus’ number one desire was that all believers may be united in Him, thus bringing glory to the Father. See in perfect unity, the enemy looses every time; We may get knocked down but by the power of unity, we can lift each other back up again. Perfect unity doesn’t distinguish between colour, denomination, or creed. Perfect unity says ‘yes we are different’ but in the same family. We are brothers and sisters, with God being our Heavenly Father.

Moreover, the power of believers united in prayer, in the most powerful tool we have been equipped with as believers. Many of the great revivals in the past have been started from a people, set out in unity to pray for the lost and peace on earth. With the current scenes that steal our newspapers front pages and those that don’t even make it to the papers, let us even more so, unite in prayer for this lost world, not just as ‘Christians’ but as brothers and sisters. The possibilities of change in this world are endless, if we would just be willing to join together in prayer and unity, interceding for our nations with hearts burdened for the lost, marginalised, en-slaved and mistreated. Let us fulfil Jesus’ prayer…. “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are One”! Let us unite in prayer.

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God’s Anointed Words

16th November

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word… I Have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:9,11

How can any of us stay pure in a world where temptation is so ‘in your face’ and where it is deemed strange to stand up for purity and holiness? Although there is an easy answer to this question, it is in reality a hard teaching to put into practice. The Psalmist’s answer to the question we looked at, is to obey God’s word. Yet how can we obey God’s word if we are not familiar with it?

Hiding God’s word in our hearts is not just daily habitual readings of it but meditating on it, thinking about it during our day, reciting His word, rejoicing in His laws and studying His commandments. God has graciously given us His word to help us along life’s hard journey, equipping us with the tools to withstand temptation and sin, and to become more like Christ in all we do.

Our challenge, is in the midst of our busy lives, to find a moment to take time out and reflect on God’s word. What is He is saying to us today? What verses will help us live a life of purity against the enemies scheming attacks? How can I learn to rely on Jesus in all I do? Friends, may we know the power of God’s word in our lives as we surrender to Him, to be shaped and moulded for His glory and Kingdom.

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Rejoice…Again, Rejoice

14th – 15th November

Weekend Edition

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!””

Philippians 4:4

In the past weeks we have looked at the many verses and reasons why we can worship God despite our circumstances. Yet in the same breath we could also say that there are many reasons why we can moan, be grumpy, complain and not be happy. After all we do live in a fallen world, right? Yet, the reality is this… God is still sovereign, even in the darkest times of our lives. Yes we may have many reasons to moan and grumble, and it is okay to express your hurts and frustrations to God. However, it is imperative that an attitude of praise and thanksgiving quickly replaces an attitude of complaining and moaning.

If we allow our hearts to be set on our negative emotions, then they will quickly dictate our behaviour and our attitudes towards others. That is not to say that we should suppress our problems, but rather it is saying that we are making a conscious decision not to allow a spirit of complaining and moaning to dictate our lifestyles. Rejoicing is always a decision we have to make instead of agreeing with negativity. Yes it is hard, and yes it goes against what we feel is our right when we have been hurt or aggrieved. However, if we see all that God has and will continue to do, then we can, in the power of His Holy Spirit, replace our anger with rejoicing. Moreover, we can look beyond our circumstance and rejoice IN THE LORD.

Let us remember Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome. If he could find a reason to rejoice, then we can too! Let us give us hurts and frustrations to God and ask Him to help us replace them with a spirit and attitude of joy!

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Everything Is Gods

13th November

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O Lord, and this is Your Kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things.”

1 Chronicles 29:10b-11

Before you even begin to read this devotion, please take a few minutes to make King David’s prayer yours today. They are such powerful words, full of truth and honour to our incredible Heavenly Father.

David spoke this prayer as an offering to God in preparation for the temple construction by his son, Solomon. David unfortunately missed out on being the one who would erect the temple, but during his lifetime he accumulated enough wealth, that no expense would be spared in building God a House that was befitting of a Royal King. Yet David knew the reality, that God in fact didn’t need earthly wealth to be honoured. Everything in heaven and earth is God’s anyway. Yet there is something in there, worthy of noting; David wanted to give God his best.

Do we endeavour to give God our best? Do we recognise that all we have is God’s anyway. Moreover, can we join in with David, praising the God who is Lord over everything? We can see God’s glory everywhere: In the small birds that fly around in the morning air, the glorious sunset’s that light up the evening skies, the huge Antarctic mountain ranges covered with white snow. In fact there are so many examples of God’s splendour. Let us rejoice in all these and more so that we are saved and His children.

He is the One we adore. He is Lord over all things. To Him belongs the greatness, glory, power, victory and majesty!

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One Day At A Time

12th November

“Each day I beg you for Your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to You for mercy…”

Psalm 88:9b

Suppose you have a long glass tube the exact diameter of a marble, lying on its side, with openings at both ends. Presently, the tube contains exactly 100 black marbles filling the tube in single file from one end to the other. Your goal is to fill the tube with 100 white marbles, but you can remove only one black marble per day. How many days will it take to fill the tube with white marbles? Obviously, 100 days. As you push one new white marble in one end of the tube each day, a black marble will fall out of the tube on the opposite end. By the one-hundredth day–in with a white marble, out with a black–the tube will be full of white marbles.

Can you do the same with spiritual growth? Can your mind–the battlefield in spiritual warfare–be filled more and more with godly thoughts, driving out ungodly thoughts of fear, worry, and anxiety? Following Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8-9 is a good place to begin by meditating daily on what is noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy. The more we fill our heart and mind with godly prayer and meditation, the less room there will be for worry. Each day is a battle won and deeper surrender of our ‘everything’ to Jesus!

#Today’s devotion is taken from Turning Point Daily Devotions

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Good Seeds Lead To Everlasting Life

11th November

“Those who only live to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Galatians 6:8-9

For some people everlasting life doesn’t sound pleasing. In fact, they may feel they have been dealt a hard hand in life, and can’t contemplate living longer. If that is you then hold on. We are promised that Everlasting life in God’s kingdom is enjoying daily fellowship with God Himself. Furthermore, it is a future of no pain, no suffering, no hardships, no fear, no sorrow and no tears.

Yet being saved is so much more than just everlasting life. It is enjoying the blessings here on this earth too. It is experiencing the joy that knowing God loved us so much that He gave up His only Son for us. Furthermore, it is because God loves us so much, that He is continually pouring out His grace and love over us when we make mistakes and fall short of His holy standards. It is because of His love and grace that we can live lives that reap a harvest of blessings.

Let us not give up praying for our friends and family who have not yet experienced Jesus’ love. At the proper time we will reap the harvest. Let us not give up doing good works for His glory. Let us not live to satisfy our sinful natures. Finally, let us not fear everlasting life, but rejoice in the hope and joy that awaits and is accessible on this earth too.