devotionals

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Every Good Gift Is From Above

23rd April

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created.””

James 1:17-18

I often wonder how or why I deserve God’s gift to me. I am so blessed and thankful. I have so much in terms of God’s blessings. A family that loves me, food on my table, clothes on my back, good health and most importantly, salvation. Yet I often think, what have I done to deserve all this. The interesting answer is nothing.

James tells us in his eloquent words that actually God’s goodness towards us is not a result of anything we have done but a fruit of God’s good character. His love for mankind is not dependant on their deeds. It is simply who God is. “God gives to us on the basis of His character and not on the basis of our character. God never gives us anything on the basis of who and what we are. God does not bless us because we tithe, witness or pray. We never earn or deserve anything from God.”*

God gives to us because He is good. It is His nature to be kind, loving and generous. In fact, James tells us that the God who created all of the heavens above (the Father of lights), doesn’t change His character ever! That is good news. God doesn’t stop being a generous and loving and giving God, if we have an “off” day or say something we shouldn’t have. He is who is He is because that is who He is, ‘a generous and loving and giving God’!

So today, if you feel like you are not worthy to accept God’s goodness, think again! We may not deserve His goodness, but that won’t stop Him lavishing it over us! Open your hands and heart and accept and receive what He wants to pour out over you!

*http://versebyversecommentary.com/james/james-117/

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Honouring God Through The Authority He Gives Us

22nd April

“You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority- the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that swims the ocean currents.”

Psalm 8:6-8

In Genesis chapter 1 God creates all living life and commissions mankind to care for and look after it. In verse 28, He exclaims that everything that fills the earth, man is to reign over and govern it. From the trees of the fields, to fish in the sea and even the birds in the sky. That responsibility holds true today as well.

Nature is God’s gift to mankind. It is not only necessary for us to survive but is also a beauty to behold. God has the earth in a perfect balance. The tress are there to provide oxygen for our breath, wood for our fires and shelter from the rain. The fruit, vegetables, wheat and grain provide the sustenance for our daily diets. The rain is God’s natural way of watering all of His creation. The natural springs of mountainous waters provide our daily liquid. The cows of the fields provide us with milk to produce cheeses, creams, butters and yoghurts. It is no wonder that God Himself took pleasure in His creation.

Yet if God delighted so much in creation before mankind was made, think about how much more He delights with us in it, His prime creation. However because He loved us so much, He gave us charge over all of creation, to tend the grounds, look after the animals and respect the fruit it harvests. Our response should be to care about it as much as He does. After all this is also part of our worship to Him.

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Mere Mortals Loved By An Omnipotent God

21st April

“When I look at the night sky and see the works of your fingers – the moon and the stars you set in place – what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”

Psalm 8:3-4

The earth and all that is in it, is enough to convince the doubter that there is higher being who has supreme powers and is much much bigger than humanity. Yet the wonder of the earth, is that it holds all human life and intelligence as we know it, yet is just a pea shaped sized ball in comparison to the vast known and unknown universe. The stars that light up our evening skies are mere punctuation marks in God’s autobiography of the universe. There is no doubt that God is so much bigger than we could ever imagine, if by His very hands He created the universe we live in and sustains it in a perfect balance.

Yet what astounds the reader of this wonderful psalm, is the reality that the God and Creator of the universe thinks about us, mere mortals. Human life is but a passing breath in God’s understanding of time and space, yet that very breath is why He made the universe to begin with. David is right to try to understand how such a big God, loves something so small and fickle as the mortal human life.

However, the reality is, that God does love us and wants to know and have a personal relationship with us individually, even though He is a supreme and omnipotent God. We may be only mortals, yet He does care for us. He cares when we cry, laugh or shout for joy. He cares when our children get into our first choice schools, or when parents celebrate the joys of being grandparents for the first time. He cares about us getting the job we have been searching for for so long. He even cares when things don’t go according to the way we wanted them to. Why? Because He does. He created us. In fact, He created us to show us His love.

Praise God, that the creator and sustainer of humanity, who cares about us so deeply and intimately.

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Life Is So Frail

20th April

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

James 4:14 NLT

Today, enroute to Tokyo, we witnessed a very traumatic situation. A man on our bus, passed out and fell un-conscious. We stopped the bus and carried the man out onto the street and waited for the ambulance service to arrive. They tried to resuscitate him and even applied the defibrillator to no avail. Although he was not pronounced deceased it didn’t look very hopeful as he lay there lifeless.

It was such a sad thing to see and so many questions wondered through my mind. What is his story? Does he have family? Did he have a health condition already? Yet above all, what stood out most to me was, was he ready to meet his maker?

Life is so frail and so temporary. No one can know when our time is up? No one can predict what life has in store for us. It is for this reason that we should make the most of every moment we have on this earth. We should keep short accounts with both God and man. And most importantly share the good news of Jesus’ love with people you meet. Don’t hold on to the great news of salvation, because you never know. You might be the last person that someone meets.

Everyday is a gift from God. Count your blessings for the air you breath, the legs that enable you to walk and for the friends and family around you.

If you read this and have not met Jesus yet, then don’t delay. Reach out and invite Him into your life. I promise that you won’t be disappointed… His love is just an acceptance prayer away.

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No Longer Slaves But Friends

18th -19th April

Weekend Edition

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father has told Me.”

John 15:15

Jesus’ words held so much power and authority yet He spoke with such intimacy and in such a personal way. In this weekend’s verse we learn what it means to have a renewed relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus gives the analogy of a master and slave relationship. It was very rare to find any personal correspondence or relationship between a master and a servant. There was a level of respect and honouring of their position from the slave. Jesus uses this example to show the distance between God and man before He came. In order to be forgiven of sins, one had to present an offering in the temple once a year and rely on the High Priest to present their sacrifice to God. It all seemed so impersonal.

However, Jesus came, ‘being in the very form of God’, demonstrating the kind of personal relationship that God wanted to have with us. In sharing God’s heart with His disciples and followers, He broke down the barrier between God and man. “You are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father has told Me!”

The same stands for us today. God doesn’t want to hide Himself from us, like a far away, unapproachable supreme being. He wants to reveal intimate details of His character to us. He wants to have a personal and close relationship with us. In fact He wants to speak to us more than we think we want to hear His voice. Jesus, desires a personal audience with us because we are His friends. Yes He is a holy God, but that is why Jesus came. So He could be our righteousness for us. We can have a ‘friendship’ with God, because God doesn’t look at our sin that distances us from God, but looks at what Jesus did for us on the cross which brings us closer to God. That is grace, that is true friendship!!

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You Are My Friends If….

17th April

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command.”

John 15:13-14

Isn’t it just great that we can be friends with the creator of the universe. It is such a strange concept for some but the very words of Jesus, here in John 15 demonstrate to us the genuine love and affection Jesus has for us, in that He was willing to lay down His life for us. According to Jesus’ words there is no greater act of love. Jesus longed for a genuine and intimate relationship with His creation. After all that is why He came right?

However what can we do to ever live up to Jesus’ standards of love and affection. We cant physically lay our lives down for Him in the same way He did for us can we? Well, technically we can! Jesus’ requirements for our part of the deal was simply to accept what He did for us and to obey His commandments. A lifestyle choice to lay down our own way of living and submit to His way. So what were His commandments?

Jesus twice states what His commandments are for us. First in verse 12 and then again in verse 17. Simply “Love each other in the same way I have loved you!”. It is a big ask to love with the same love that Jesus showed us, however, with the help of the Holy Spirit and submitting all our relationships to Jesus, (that also includes people we have not met yet, because they need to know His love too!!), it is possible.

Yet we can only love if we remain in His love and obey His commandments! The challenge for us today is to know that we are loved and we are friends of Jesus. There is no greater love in this world that can replace or substitute the love that Christ has for us. We are His friends…by His own admission.

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The Sharpening Of Friendship

16th April

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend..”

Proverbs 27:10

Yesterday we heard about Jesus’ perseverance to endure the cross even though He was betrayed by one of His friends and let down by three other tired disciples. Yet friendships also have so many positives too. In fact, life was meant to be lived with companionship. Even the “Early church” knew of the importance of friendships, as the Apostles often encouraged the churches to meet together in communion and fellowship.

The writer of Proverbs wisely likens the sharpening of friendship with the analogy of iron sharpening another piece of iron. When a knife is blunt, it is pretty useless. In fact the most common cause of cuts in a kitchen is from blunt knives. It is only when a knife has been sharpened that you can use it to its full potential.

Much is the same with friendships. “Blunt” friendships can often be so draining and not genuine. When your time of need comes, they are no where to be found. Yet true friendship, is when you have a friend that can challenge you, correct you, encourage you and build you to be the person God intended you to be (and visa-versa). Sharpening may not always be easy to hear and to say, yet if we are not challenging each other, then our lives can easily slip away from God’s best for us. It is because a father/mother loves their children that they discipline them. So it is with friendship. True and genuine friendship can be a great tool in showing Holiness, Integrity and Godliness to our world that needs to be set an example of what true and genuine friendship is.

Friendship is an integral part to our growth in Christ, our growth as a person and helping others grow. May the Lord continue to bless our friendships and deepen our trust in Him.

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Let Down By Close Friends

15th April

“Then He returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mark 14:37-38

So often at times of desperation and at the point of our greatest need, we turn to our nearest and dearest for comfort, support and encouragement. So it was with Jesus here in today’s verses. It is not that Jesus needed protection because He knew what was about to happen. What He did need was support. Yet Jesus, who so clearly shared His anguish with His disciples, was let down by the very people he was so open and honest with a few moments earlier. In fact three times Jesus left the disciples awake and came back to find them asleep.

The disciples must have also been carrying a great burden on their shoulders knowing that something out of the ordinary would happen. Yet the weight of tiredness and their burdens sent them to sleep, albeit not intentionally. When Jesus came back a third time and found them sleeping, the disciples response was one of complete silence because of their shame.

So what does this mean for us today? Firstly, in Jesus’ time of greatest need, He exhibited the kind of openness and honesty that we can all learn from. This is the same Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, asking for companionship and support at His greatest time of need. If Jesus could share His burdens and ask people to support Him in prayer, then we should also learn from this and be able to express our fears and anxieties without feeling shame or guilt. (Notice that Jesus only shared this with His three closest disciples).

Finally, when we are let down by our friends, let us not be discouraged but find our strength in the One that never lets us down, our Heavenly Father. Jesus although let down but His disciples, still showed nothing but love and grace and didn’t hold it against them. Although He showed His disappointment, He didn’t let it detract Him from His purpose and still showed humility even until His dying breath. Share your pains and struggles…Forgive even more quickly.

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The Bearable Yet Un-Bearable Cup

14th April

“He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” …..”Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine!””

Mark 14:34, 36

We often think that Jesus’ pain and suffering started and ended on the cross. Yet Mark tells us here that His suffering started a long time before His actual execution. The suffering He went through, is suffering that I don’t think anyone should or ever will have to go through again. Jesus, let us not forget, was fully God and fully man on Earth. Yet here, in verse 24, we see the first signs of the humanity and emotion of Jesus. He knew that His physical death was going to be a great and painful ordeal, yet what was more crushing to Him, was the burden He would have to carry upon His shoulders.

The language Jesus uses almost seems like desperation to get out of what He was going to do. “My soul is crushed with grief even to the point of death”, “Please take this cup of suffering away from Me.” These are strong and chilling statements from our Messiah.

Yet the last words of Jesus in verse 36, show who He really was and the inner strength He had by the power of the Holy Spirit. “YET I WANT YOUR WILL TO BE DONE, NOT MINE.” These words hold so much authority, and will forever stand as a proclamation of Jesus’ endurance throughout time. Even through the pain, the suffering and the almost unbearable weight of what He had to do, Jesus still exhibited such a sacrificial and loving attitude towards all of creation, even when He knew that there people who were going to reject Him, deny Him and even not believe in Him.

Jesus, our perfect example, showed us how to persevere through trials and tribulations. How? By completely relying on His Heavenly Father. Jesus knew that God the Father was walking with Him, even in His darkest time. So it stands as an encouragement for us, when we are facing situations where we see no light at the end of the tunnel, know that your Heavenly Father is a good God and is walking with you through your storm.

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The Stingless Enemy

13th April

“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Sin and death have no power over us anymore because we have the victory in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful verse to start the week with. We can know for sure that when Jesus laid down His life for us, He took the sting out of sin and death, and instead gives us life and life in its fullness.

When Moses gave the law to the people of Israel, it bound them to the consequences of their actions. They could no longer say “I didn’t know this or that was wrong” because the law clearly stated what was permissible and what was a sin. That in turn pronounced judgement on those living under the law. If you stole, you are guilty according to the law. If you lied then according to the law, you are guilty. And so on and so forth. The consequence of disobeying the law was ultimately Spiritual and sometimes physical death.

It all started when Adam disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, sin entered the world, resulting in death and eternal separation from God. Yes sin has consequences here on earth but the ultimate price of sin was death. However it doesn’t end there!!

Paul finishes in verse 57 with the good news of Jesus Christ. We now have the victory in Jesus’ death and resurrection and in His conquering of sin and death on the cross. Jesus had to die a sinners death (even though He was completely innocent), paying the debt and consequences of our sin, and by doing so, when He resurrected, rendered the power of death and sin defeated. He paid our price (the consequence of our sins) so we would no longer have to.

So now when we do make bad choices, we can come before the throne of God, confidently and without condemnation because there is no sting in our sin.