devotions

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True Religion Is To..

27th March

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Isaiah 1:17 

Yesterday we learnt that religion should not focus on external practices as a show of pride but should reflect the inward change by the work of salvation in our hearts. Religious works are sets of rules that say you must to do this or that to become holy or get closer to God, but according to Isaiah’s prophetic word from God, this simply is not the case. The only way we can become right before God is through confessing our sins and being made clean (verse 16). It is from that standpoint that outward expressions are true and noble.

So what do these pure and true outward expressions look like? Isaiah’s words in verse 17 help us to understand what true religion looks like. Simply put when God works in our heart for His glory, His glory pours out of our heart. In turn the things that burden Him, become our burden. The hurt and injustice He sees in this world becomes our hurt. The love and compassion He has for the marginalised of society (widows and orphans), is the same love and compassion we receive also. The difference is now we don’t look to help the poor, oppressed, orphaned and widowed to make ourselves look good but rather to bring glory to our Father in Heaven. This becomes selfless acts of true religion rather than works to make us look good and try to grab both man and Gods attention.

This message is so strong that even James echoes this in his letter to the early churches. “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you!” (James 1:27). This follows on from James’ strong words that we simply can’t just listen to God’s words (selfish) we must act upon it (selfless). So what are you waiting for… Go get right with God, then do good, feed the hungry, help the homeless, orphans and widows.

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True Religion Is To..

26th March

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Isaiah 1:17 

Religion is often used as a word to explain people’s faith and their understanding of a greater power/being than themselves. Religion is also used in a derogatory way when explaining habits and lifestyles that reflect what one believes by the way they act (often external practices yet inwardly empty). However true religion is not bad at all.

In today’s reading we find Israel is in persecution. They have been unfaithful to their first love and as consequence find themselves in ruin and under the rule of a heathen nation. Outwardly they were a very religious people yet inwardly there hearts were completely empty. Living like this may be ok for time, but it eventually has its consequences, separation from God. God knows our hearts and actually He takes no please in our external acts if our inward hearts are not in line with His will. In fact it is our heart relationship with God that should be reflected by our outward actions.

God spoke through Isaiah to tell the people of Israel that He was not interested in their outward acts of religion because He knew that their hearts were far away from Him. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of the fattened cattle” (verse 11), “Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen” (verse 15). These words may seem harsh from the Lord, but the truth is that their hearts were so opposite from their actions, that it was almost like they were mocking God when they brought sacrifices and offered prayers to Him. God doesn’t want us to live living two lives. He wants our hearts and actions to be reflective of our genuine and true relationship with Him. So what is does this true religion look like?

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Rejoice….It’s A New Day

24th March

“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 

Psalm 118 is filled with fulfilled promises about Jesus the Messiah. Many wonderful songs have been written using the Psalmist’s wonderful words. Yet none more so than today’s verse. We could take this verse and build it into its context of hardships and struggles. However, simply lets take this verse as face value.

Whatever you are going through, this is the Lord’s day. Whatever challenges you may face, this is the day that God has made. Be strong and rejoice. Rejoicing is a choice. You choose to rejoice in the day, because you know God Himself has made it for you. The Lord has made this day for you to enjoy…REJOICE.

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Take Your Eyes Off Jesus And You Will Sink

19th March

“But as soon as he saw the strong winds and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. ”Why did you doubt me?”

Matthew 14:30-31

As we pick up this wonderful story again today, it is interesting at this point to note that Peter was the only disciple to step out of the boat in faith. As far as we can see from the text the boat was filled with all of the disciples. So why was Peter the only one to step out in faith? The answer is not given in this story, but what we do know, is that Peter trusted Jesus enough to initially step out and go to meet him.

However, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm, the wind and the waves, he began to sink. Lets pause there. Before we start to criticise Peter here, lets remember he was as far as we know the only person to ever walk on water (obviously besides Jesus). Yet He made what could have been a fatal error. He let the circumstance around him, overcome and distract him.

How often do we do the same thing? How often do we allow the circumstances and the storms around us to distract and take our focus of Jesus? In fact when we do that, we put our problems in place of Jesus in our lives. It is like we doubt who Jesus is, when we make our focus the problems instead Jesus. When Peter reached out to Jesus, Jesus rebuked him for not having enough faith! It may seem harsh but the reality was that Jesus, the Son of God, was also there with him. Jesus was also walking on the water. Peter originally had the faith to step out. Yet He took His eyes of what Jesus was doing already.

This is a great reminder for us that we should always keep our eyes on Jesus, see what He is doing through our storms, and when we feel like we are sinking, re-align our focus with Jesus and not our problems.

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Faith That Walks On Water

18th March

“Then Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to You, walking on the water.” ”Yes, come.” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and WALKED ON WATER towards Jesus. But as soon as he saw the strong winds and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.”

Matthew 14:28-30 

Peter walked on water. Just take a moment to think about that. We can completely get that Jesus walked on water but Peter? How many humans can say they did that if their lifetime? Yes we can see miracles of people being healed, delivered, and even tornados disappearing but to see someone walk on water takes faith to a whole new level. Yet why is it so significant in this text, beside it being humanly impossible to achieve such a feat?

Peter in particular, would have been used to storms. He was a fisherman. It is very likely that he battled many storms in his lifetime. Yet this storm was different. Mark in his account, tells us that the disciples were in serious trouble. However, when Jesus called Peter to come to Him, Peter ignored the perilous situation around him, climbed over the boat and started to walk towards Jesus.

Notice that there are two significant things here. The first being, that Peter completely ignored the storm around him and stepped out in faith. He didn’t look at his circumstance but instead fixed His eyes towards Jesus. The fact that Jesus called Peter and he heard His voice, gave Peter enough faith to know that he could put His trust in the One calling him.

The second is the fact that Peter had to physically climb out the boat. That is hard enough to do on a good day, let alone in the midst of violent storm. By stepping out the boat, he further demonstrated his complete trust in Jesus to make sure he didn’t drown.

What does that mean for us? When life gets stormy, we have an anchor to keep us grounded. He will watch over us in the storm, call us through the storm and help us step out in faith in the midst of it. All we have to do is trust Him.

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Stepping Out In Faith Through Life’s Storms

17th March

“”Take courage, I am here.” Then Peter called out to Him, “Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on water.” “Yes come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water toward towards Jesus.”

Matthew 12:27-28

Life has storms. It’s a given. We live in a fallen world. Yet just because life has storms, doesn’t mean we need to give up and drown in those storms.

In today’s passage we pick up the story of Jesus meeting His disciples in the midst of their own crisis. Jesus has just fed 5,000 people. He sends His disciples away and has some alone time (important principle if even Jesus had His own time). On their journey crossing the lake, the disciples encounter a storm that is proving to be very dangerous. As they look out into to the waves and the storm, they see a figure walking towards them and assume that it’s a ghost.

The disciples were in a state of panic. The wind and waves were crashing around them and they were struggling to contain them. And then to top it off, a ghost like figure starts walking towards them. However, as Jesus approaches, He reveals His identity and by doing so, eases their fears and worries.

Jesus’ comforting words to the disciples can also be a comfort for us today in the midst of our storms and trials. “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, I am here.” These words have so much life in them. They are so comforting and the great thing is, is that they are eternal words. Yes they were for the disciples at their time of need, however we can rely on these words as our promise today, because the same person who spoke those words to the disciples, is the same person who lives in us. So today “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, Jesus is here.” Jesus is at hand, in the midst of your storm..

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Are You Not More Valuable Than The Sparrow?

16th March

“What is the price of five sparrows – two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

Luke 12:6-7 

What determines your value? Is it monetary wealth? Material possessions? Man’s affirmation? Or is it your career status?

If you look at a 5 or 10 pound note you will see that it is just a piece of paper. Yet what determines its monetary value? One of the reasons is the Queen’s stamp on the note. This says that the Bank of England promises to pay the value of the figure stated on the note. The Queen’s stamp is almost like an affirmation of this promise. Yet without it, it’s just a piece of paper. What is written on it, gives it its value.

Jesus, in today’s passage encourages His disciples that God values us so dearly. It is interesting to note, that Jesus had the authority to say these things as complete truth, because He was God. If so, then we should take great encouragement also, knowing that what Jesus is saying is true for us today. We are valued more than the sparrows that fly about who neither labour nor toil for their food, yet are provided for by the hand of God (Matthew 6:26). Jesus takes this picture a step further and exclaims that even though the sparrows are used for trading purposes, he still values each one and DOESN’T FORGET EVEN ONE OF THEM!! If God remembers a sparrow, how much does he know us?

Jesus finishes this passage with an astounding fact. God even knows the hairs on our head. It may seem an irrelevant piece of information, however it is so important in knowing Gods character. God knows us so deeply and intimately. Even more than we know ourselves. If He knows how many hairs are on our head, then surely He knows your worries, struggles and hardships. The greatest thing of all is that He has stamped His promise on you and that is what gives us value!

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No One Can Pray And Worry At The Same Time (Max Lucado)

14th – 15th March

Weekend Edition

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up”

Proverbs 12:25 

Life is so short, so unpredictable and so fragile. Worrying doesn’t add anything to your life. Rather it probably reduces your lifespan (not a scientific fact). If life is so short, then we shouldn’t waste time worrying. Yet the truth is that we do worry. We do let worry take over our lives and let it become like an unassailable mountain.

Yet if we are praying, as mentioned in yesterdays post, we gain victory by trusting in God and making Him priority in our lives. Prayer gives our problems to Jesus. The responsibility becomes His. We exchange our heavy, burdened hearts for joyful, free and living hearts. Worry focuses on ME but praying focuses on Jesus.

We also have a greater responsibility to encourage and cheer up our friends. Today’s proverb says exactly that, “an encouraging word cheers a person up”. Good words bring life. It has the opposite effect to worry. Worry weighs you down, but a good word lifts us up. It is so true that when you are down and burdened, an uplifting encouraging word can make all the difference and put your worries into perspective. Our challenge is to find someone to encourage and to give a good word to. Not only will it help them but will help you too.

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Tell God Your Needs And Thank Him For His Deeds

13th March

“Don’t worry about anything: Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace… ”

Philippians 4:6-7a 

Part of trusting God for all your needs is thanking Him for all He has already done. It is in the moments of getting caught up in your needs that we can often forget who God is and what He has been doing in our lives.

Yet it seems so hard that when we are in our darkest moments, when we feel like all hope is gone, that we should trust God and start thanking. However this attitude of gratitude is the key to living a worry and stress free life.

Paul encourages the church in Philippi to also trust in God and thank Him whilst bringing their requests to Him. He then states that it is only when you are exercising a thankful heart that you can really know the peace of God. The great thing is that that peace of God is a supernatural peace. A peace that says there is a storm raging around me, but because I know God is at hand, because I am thankful for all He has done and is going to do, there is a stillness in my heart that anchors me and gives me the strength to carry on. It gives a whole new dimension to the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ slogan. In truth that keeping calm and carrying on, only comes when we are fully grounded, fully submitted and fully thankful to the will and desires of our Loving and Caring Heavenly Father.

Do you trust God with your worries enough to be thankful for everything?

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Do Not Worry: Just Pray

12th March

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What we will wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT YOUR NEEDS. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. ”

Matthew 6:30-33

I was recently telling someone I was anxious about my future plans. They stopped me and encouraged me with these words, ‘Do Not Worry: Just Pray’. It took a couple of seconds and then the reality of what she actually said struck me. When we pray, we immediately take the burden from our own hearts and give it to Jesus. It is like we are supernaturally giving Him the weights that hold us down. When we pray, when we give our worries and anxieties to the One we know will deal with them, it can be so liberating and peaceful. Again this does not negate our responsibilities, but cements our hope and trust in the fact that Jesus is at hand.

Why can we be so confident that He will help us? The answer, because of the phrase Jesus repeated. ‘Your Father knows what you need already.’(Biblical repetition is always an indicator that we need to pay attention to what is being said.) If God already knows what we need, then why worry. He is already working on the situation or circumstance. Jesus, in the preceding verses has already talked about how the Father clothes the lilies of the fields and feeds the birds of the air. If so, then why worry? How much more do we mean to the Father than these things?

Our responsibility is to not worry. It is to seek the kingdom of God. It is to not let our burdens and worries, make us loose sight of Jesus. It is to live righteously by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives. It to have faith that all things are in God’s hand and that He will give us everything we need. Why worry then?