Devotion Thoughts - 26/04/2011

Judges 6:1-40


A prophet was instructed by the Lord to point out the sins of the people (v.8).


When someone points out any sin we have committed, how do we react? Accept correction? Be defensive about our sin? The smart option is to admit to sin, ask God for forgiveness, believe that it is yours, and move on. That's what David did (2 Samuel 12:7), and received God's forgiveness. His response is recorded in Psalm 51. God will forgive confessed sin. If there is any unconfessed sin in your life take this comment as a word from the Lord and confess. As always, the Lord will bless and you can move on with your life.

Luke 22:55-71, Luke 23:1-10


If we are in the company of unbelievers there is the danger that, like Peter, we will deny the Lord. Remaining silent when the Lord's name is used as a curse is a form of denial. Peter's problem was that he did not yet have the presence of the Holy Spirit in him, helping him to control any wrongful tendencies. After Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was in control of his life, Peter boldly witnessed for Jesus (Acts 2:14). Without God's power to help us we will also hold back with our witnessing.

Proverbs 14:5-6


Good habits must be developed; become a way of life for us. Bad habits are not only about lies; they include being unreliable, that is, not doing things you have committed yourself to do, or focusing only on your own interests and not going out of your way to do things for your neighbour. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36) gives three examples of reactions to a problem that were probably the result of an habitual way of life:

1. The priest chose to ignore the problem completely;


2. the Levite saw there was a problem but did not have the will to do anything about it;


3. the Samaritan went out of his way to sort the problem out.
   
   
   

Self-centredness does not please God;we must get out of our comfort zone on behalf of others(v.37).

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Devotion Thoughts - 17/04/2011

Deut 15:1-63


The boundaries for the tribes were clearly delineated. In some cases, as for Caleb, the tribe or clan had still to drive out the Canaanites who lived there. As for the Jebusites who lived at Jebus (the earlier name for Jerusalem), they clung there until defeated by David.


Believers also have to fight for their place in heaven (John 14:3), but this fight takes place here on earth before we die, and is against spiritual, not earthly, foes (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus has a home waiting for us, adding that He will come back for us and take us to live there. All we need to do for it to happen is to trust Him.


Luke 18:18-43


Jesus did not say He was not good; He simply stated that only God is good. The point He made was that no man is good; all are sinners, even those who thought they kept all the commandments. Two commandments are implied in the Ten Commandments: love for God; and, love for neighbours.


Paul wrote that the love of money causes sin (1 Timothy 6:10). Because the rich young ruler loved his money, he neither kept all the commandments (as he thought) nor did he love God and his (poor) neighbour. Take care how we rate ourselves, for we might also be falling short of God's demands.


Many prayers are too vague, such as, 'Lord, have mercy on me'. With God we must be specific. It is not enough to hope that God will 'have mercy' at the Judgment; we must ask Him to forgive our sins and be our Saviour. That request will be granted, and we will then not have to fear the Judgment!


Psalm 86:1-17


David could refer to himself as holy because, with all his heart, he called on God daily for forgiveness, and wanted God to teach him to walk in truth.


If we are as determined and passionate as David was in seeking to live for God we will also be people 'after God's own heart' (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22).


Proverbs 13:9-10


Put another way: righteousness shall reign and wickedness shall be stamped out. Pride makes us fight for our 'rights'; it is about self-righteousness, not righteousness.

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