modern devotionals

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The Great Commission Includes Us All

6th April

“Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach the new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew records, in his account of Jesus’ last days, what is probably the most famous of Jesus’ last words to His disciples. Yet the most exciting thing from this passage is that it includes us too. We too are also commissioned to go into the world and make disciples for Christ. Yet so often we reserve this particular passage for ‘missionaries’ who are being sent across the world to serve in gospel-deprived nations. The NLT translation of this text is so inclusive. It doesn’t say go to the nations and make disciples, rather it says make disciples of all nations. This is a more inclusive translation and when we think about it, in actual fact we can be God’s witnesses wherever we are. The rich man in our workplace who thinks he has life sorted because of his growing wealth and status on this earth needs someone to show him Christ’s love as much as the deprived, malnourished child in the war zone of Sudan.

So what message do we bring to the nations? How do we make new disciples for Christ? Well, according to Jesus’ words, it is by teaching them to obey God’s commands; the summary Jesus gave of all the commandments were these: “Love the Lord your God above all else” and “love your neighbour as yourself“. If we follow and teach others these commandments, then surely people will come to know Jesus’ love through our lifestyle and witness of Him. In actual fact Jesus has commissioned us all to do this. Whether that is through the way we live our lives in replicating Jesus’ commands or whether we actually verbally teach it to others, we are all called to be witnesses of Christ’s commandments to the world.

Yet the key to this passage is not ‘living’ and ‘doing’ in our own strength and authority but in rather in the authority given to us through Jesus Christ, the risen and resurrected King. Because He lives, we too can access authority in His Name as the sons and daughters of His Kingdom. Jesus is now and forever with us “even until the end of the ages”. All we need to do is draw on His strength, be His witnesses to All Nations, and show them Christ’s love through word and deed.

Go into the world and make disciples for Him!!

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Forgive As You Have Been Forgiven

5th April

“Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.””

John 20:22-23

After Jesus’ resurrection, on the Sunday evening, Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples. After comforting them with peace, as they were afraid of being arrested by the Jewish leaders, Jesus breathed on them and gave the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Jesus then said the following words to His disciples…“If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Why did Jesus say these words? He could have easily said, ‘now that you are filled with the Holy Spirit, go and do signs and wonders, go and use all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bring people to Me..!’ Yet Jesus chose to speak words of forgiveness, not to belittle the above as they are important characteristics of a Christian, but rather because forgiveness is the essence of our salvation and our walk with Christ and can only take place through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus didn’t say these words to give us power to forgive each others sins as if we are taking over God’s place, because as we know, only God can forgive sins committed towards Him. He spoke these words to give us power over holding on to bitterness and the hurts that people’s actions have caused us, so that we can release them from what they did and ourselves from holding on to it. How can we do that? Because Jesus did exactly that for us on the cross. He completely forgave us and released us from the guilt and condemnation that our sin brings. If we are forgiven to such a great extent, then we should as graciously forgive those who do wrong towards us.

Jesus chose to say these words because on the cross, He defeated all pain, bitterness and anger and after His resurrection empowered us to forgive others by giving us the Holy Spirit, and setting us the perfect example; so just as we are forgiven by Him, so we must forgive others. When we let go of un-forgiveness, we can be set free to live in joy and freedom. Let us this day ask God to reveal who we need to forgive and release from bitterness.

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Simon, Simon

4th April

“Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31-32

Today’s passage is written straight after Jesus has just introduced ‘communion’ with His disciples. As He prepares His disciples for His death, Jesus tells Peter that he would deny Him three times, to which Peter vehemently disagrees with, “No!… Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny You!” (Mark 14:31). Yet Jesus’ prophecy was correct and Peter did indeed deny Jesus three times. Yet what is interesting is the fact that Jesus was already planning Peter’s reconciliation before he had even denied Jesus. “..So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” How utterly incredible is this verse. Jesus didn’t say ‘if’ you come back to Me but ‘when’ you come back to me. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him. He knew, despite Peter’s protests. He knew, despite the passion and vigour of Peter’s faith. And yet He still did not reject Peter but made a way for Him to come back to Him.

The Bible is full of stories where God is already paving the way for sinners to come back to Him, even before they have sinned. This highlights God’s character and God’s plans for our lives. He wants us to be saved and He gives us every opportunity to help us realise we have made a mistake and every opportunity to come back to Him. He wants us to have a relationship with Him, so much so, that He gave His Only Son in our place. It’s never too late to turn back to Him. He has already made a reconciliation plan for you.

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Victory In Resurrection

2nd & 3rd April

Weekend Edition

“Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.”

2 Corinthians 11:24-25

The death of many of Jesus’ disciples has long been a talking point for Christian’s and non-Christians alike. Although there are not many ‘full and detailed’ stories of their deaths in the Bible, we can from historical documentation know how some of them died. Take Peter for example; many say that he did not feel worthy of dying the same way as Jesus, so he asked to be crucified upside down. Other disciples were either stoned, beaten to death and some even be-headed. The one account in the Bible, is of James, John’s brother, killed by the sword as described in Acts 12 verse 2. The Apostle Paul also talks of his many beatings and close encounters with death found in 2 Corinthians 11. So what makes what Jesus did so important, if many other people suffered the same fate as Him, or even worse physical pain?

It is the fact that on Him, lay every sin we have ever done and will ever do. As Peter says in his letter found in 1 Peter 2:24, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” That is the key. It is by His wounds that we find complete spiritual and physical healing. It is because an innocent man’s blood paid the price for our guilty sins. As nobel as the other disciple’s deaths were, their deaths were not to pay for our sins. Only Jesus’ was.

Even more incredible, is that Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again and by doing so, defeated sin and death once and for all. He destroyed the power of death, He destroyed the power of the enemy, and He once and for all, made it possible that we can be completely forgiven for our sins. It was Jesus that had to die for us, suffer for us and be resurrected for us. And it is only through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we have victory.

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Jesus Did Indeed Rise Again

1st April

“He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scripture said. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw Him.”

1 Corinthians 15:4-8

Why do so many people doubt Jesus’ resurrection? This is one of the most clearest scriptures in the whole of the Bible regarding Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, which clearly states that Jesus is alive and was seen by many. How can we deny these facts? This living proof, a letter written by a real person, in a real context, in a real world, by real eye witnesses to the fact that Jesus did indeed rise again. This is historical ‘primary’ evidence. This is historical, first hand accounts of people who had seen Jesus after His resurrection. The grave was broken, the result of sin nullified and death has been rendered ‘defeated‘.

If Jesus didn’t rise again then as Paul continues in his letter, “… all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless” (verse 14). Paul adds that “.. if Christ has not been raised, then… you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost” (verse 17-18)! However, the hope of our salvation is that Jesus DID rise from the dead and now lives in complete victory over sin and the enemy. In addition, we also live in Christ’s resurrection power and His victory. We are forgiven because of Jesus’ resurrection. We are made alive because Jesus is alive!

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead…..!”

(verse 20a)

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Believing Thomas

31st March

“They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.”…..“Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!””

John 20:25,26b-27

Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, was witness to the most extraordinary event ever to be recorded: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet, despite the testimony of his friends, Jesus’ other disciples, Thomas did not believe straight away, hence why many have given him the name ‘doubting Thomas’. However, what is more mind-blowing is not Thomas’ doubts but rather Jesus’ words when He finally appears in the flesh to Thomas, “Peace be with you”.

When Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas, the first words He used were not words of rebuke or condemnation, but words of comfort and peace. He didn’t even get angry with Thomas. He simply calmed His doubts and re-assured Him with Heavenly peace. In addition, He met Thomas were his doubts were and allowed Thomas to touch His wounds to appease his doubts. This scene speaks volumes to those who doubt or those we know doubt Jesus’ existence or resurrection.

If Jesus did not rebuke His own disciple who had been with Him, seen the miracles first hand, listened to Jesus’ own prophecy about rising again on the third day, then is that not a lesson for us today. Instead of rebuking everyone who doubts our Lord’s resurrection, may we too respond with peace and show who the resurrected Jesus is through our lives and pray that the Lord may also reveal Himself to them too. We can take comfort that Jesus meets people were they are and calms their doubts in His own loving way, just as He did with Thomas.

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The Risen King

30th March

““Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it’s really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.””

Luke 24:38-39

So many people throughout history have doubted the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Some even doubt His very existence. Interestingly, the doubters of this world are not alone. Even Jesus’ own disciples doubted that He had risen. They thought that when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection He was a spirit or a ghost.

Yet after Jesus revealed that it was indeed Him, the doubts went away and instead, they were filled with such a conviction to share this news with others, even to the point of persecution and death. The testimony of these men lives on today, even after more than 2000 years. Yet it is not only the testimony of these men and the spreading of the gospel that have caused many to put their trust in the resurrected Jesus, it is the fact that Jesus continues to reveal Himself to doubters.

Once we experience the revelation of Jesus’ resurrection, we can do nothing but serve Him with our lives and tell others about this great news. Jesus is alive. He is real. He did rise from the dead, just as He said. He lives in us and we are living witnesses of His life changing grace and power. Go…. Tell the world HE IS ALIVE!

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Mary: I Call You By Name

29th March

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

John 20:14-16

One of the first people Jesus appeared to in His resurrected body was Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a lot about Mary, other than the fact she had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus. Some say she was a prostitute or a ‘loose woman’ before she met Jesus, yet those claims are not supported by Biblical references. What we do know about her, is that after her healing, she never left Jesus’ side. She was present throughout Jesus’ ministry, at the cross and most importantly at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John and is especially significant for Jesus’ words when speaking with Mary.

After questioning the angels to see where Jesus’ body was, noticing that the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, Mary encountered a Man whom she thought was the gardener. Yet in actual fact the ‘gardener’ was indeed the resurrected Jesus. However, it was Jesus’ response to Mary’s desperate questions that promoted her to recognise who Jesus really was. As soon as Jesus said “Mary”, she knew it was her Lord and Saviour. The love that could be heard through Jesus’ affirming words moved Mary to call out ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabboni’. She knew the voice of her Good Shepherd calling her. She knew the comfort His voice brought. She knew the value of Jesus’ words. She knew that she was God’s child and that God Himself was calling her. One can only imagine the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus called her by name.

Today, Jesus calls us too by name. He calls us as His bride. He calls us as His chosen ones. His voice is as re-assuring, affirming and loving as it was when He called out Mary’s name. His voice gives us the assurance that we are His. Heed Jesus’ loving voice. We are His beloved.

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Mary: I Call You By Name

29th March

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

John 20:14-16

One of the first people Jesus appeared to in His resurrected body was Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a lot about Mary, other than the fact she had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus. Some say she was a prostitute or a ‘loose woman’ before she met Jesus, yet those claims are not supported by Biblical references. What we do know about her, is that after her healing, she never left Jesus’ side. She was present throughout Jesus’ ministry, at the cross and most importantly at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John and is especially significant for Jesus’ words when speaking with Mary.

After questioning the angels to see where Jesus’ body was, noticing that the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, Mary encountered a Man whom she thought was the gardener. Yet in actual fact the ‘gardener’ was indeed the resurrected Jesus. However, it was Jesus’ response to Mary’s desperate questions that promoted her to recognise who Jesus really was. As soon as Jesus said “Mary”, she knew it was her Lord and Saviour. The love that could be heard through Jesus’ affirming words moved Mary to call out ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabboni’. She knew the voice of her Good Shepherd calling her. She knew the comfort His voice brought. She knew the value of Jesus’ words. She knew that she was God’s child and that God Himself was calling her. One can only imagine the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus called her by name.

Today, Jesus calls us too by name. He calls us as His bride. He calls us as His chosen ones. His voice is as re-assuring, affirming and loving as it was when He called out Mary’s name. His voice gives us the assurance that we are His. Heed Jesus’ loving voice. We are His beloved.

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The Pharisee’s Denial

28th March

“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.””

Matthew 28:5-7

It seems as if everyone but the Pharisees knew that something special had just taken place when Jesus was crucified. What were they thinking? Were their eyes blinded to the events surrounding Jesus’ death?

Moments after Jesus’ death, the leading Pharisees and teachers of the law, went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ tomb to be blocked by a huge stone to prevent His disciples coming in the middle of the night to steal His body and thus claiming that He had risen from the dead. Interestingly, as written in Matthew 27:63, the Pharisees were worried about Jesus’ own claims that on the 3rd day He would rise from the dead again. Sure enough, their request was granted, and in addition, the tomb was guarded by some Roman Soldiers. Yet the huge stone could not keep Jesus in His grave, and just as He said, He rose from the dead on the 3rd day.

Mary Magdalene and Mary went to visit the grave on the 3rd day, yet to their shock, they found the huge stone sealing Jesus in, rolled to one side with an angel of the Lord sitting on top of the boulder. As the two women went to the disciples to share their great news, some of the guards who had also heard about these events, went to tell the Pharisees that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb and that the huge boulder had been rolled away. The Pharisees offered a bribe to the soldiers saying, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body’” (Matthew 28:13).

Time and time again, the Pharisees denied who Jesus said He was, denied what the scriptures said about Him, even to the point of manipulating lies about Him, and even denied His true resurrection. Today, we also live in an age where people set out to deny the truth about Jesus. Will you accept the truth that Jesus truly rose again and invite Him to journey with you in your life?