Devotion Thoughts - 20/07/2011

2 Chronicles 1:1-17. 2 Chronicles 2:1-18. 2 Chronicles 3:1-17

The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods (2:5,ESV).
No one can ever build a temple large enough for God--even the heavens are too small a place for Him to live in! All I can do is build a place where we can offer sacrifices to him (2:6,CEV).

Solomon did not know that one day the God Who created the universe would take up His abode in the hearts of His saints. With God all things are possible! And what is more, it is there, in the hearts of His saints, that the saints can offer their sacrifices to God - surrendered hearts and lives that He can use for His glory!

Romans 6:1-23

You are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus (v.11,GNB).

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (v.23).

In spite of the guiding presence of God in our hearts, we all sin. The trick is to live exactly as verse 11 suggests: 'Think of yourself as dead to sin', constantly reminding yourself that you are dead to all temptations, at the same time making the deliberate choice to have fellowship with God, especially when temptations are fierce. With practice, each day sin becomes less tempting and fellowship with God more to be desired. This is the thought behind Psalm 16, particularly verse 8.

Psalm 16:1-11

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved (v.8).

Making the deliberate choice to serve God at all times is the way to develop a solid spiritual lifestyle in which we are always in God's will.

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Devotion Thoughts - 18/07/2011

1 Chronicles 26:12-32. 1 Chronicles 27:1-34

Among ... the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men ... [vied to be doorkeepers who ministered] in the house of the LORD. (26:12).

There is honour in any service done for the Lord! The chief men vied with their people for the privilege of being a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord when it was their tribe's turn to minister. David put it like this:

'For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness' (Psalm 84:10).

Sound advice to follow!

No amount of gain - socially, materially, etc - can ever be as blessed as the lowliest service done for the Lord.

If you are not presently involved in some form of service (usher, secretary, mowing the church lawns, etc) then consider taking on some form of service for the Lord.

Romans 4:13-25. Romans 5:1-5

'... being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' (5:1).

What a relief when we know that we are right with the Almighty God Who holds the power of life and death over us! By His mercy He has made a way for us to be cleansed of sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. All it takes is for us to have faith in Jesus, trusting in Him alone for cleansing from sin. How will we know we are right with God? When we accept Jesus as our Saviour The Holy Spirit of God enters our hearts and brings with Him God's unmistakable peace.

Psalm 14:1-7

But [sinners] will be terrified, for God is [only] with those who obey him (v.7:GNB).

'Sinners' includes fools who do not believe in God. Because sinners do not have the presence of God in their lives they are not sure what to expect after death. Even those who don't believe in God feel uncertainty when death approaches. Only Believers will experience peace with God (Romans 5:1).

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Devotion Thoughts - 27/05/2011

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Nathan said to David, You are the one! 2Sa 12:7 Why did you despise the Lord's commandment by doing evil [committing murder]? (v.9)You did it secretly, but I will expose it to the whole world (v.12). David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD" (v.13).

David did not see the trap until Nathan pointed out that he was the guilty one. Those who believe that they have successfully covered up their sin are mistaken; God always sees what we do. When he realised he had been found out, David acknowledged his sin and was forgiven.
Either our sin is revealed when we ask forgiveness of Jesus and see all our sins washed away, or (for unbelievers), make no confession and have every sin revealed at the Judgment. Thankfully, for Believers, our confessed sins have been forgiven, wiped away, and forgotten by God forever.

John 16:1-33

The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and believed that I came out from God (v.27). {My paraphrase}.

It must have been a mind-boggling experience for the disciples to realise - and believe - that Jesus had come from God to them. But that is just the start. One day we will know and enjoy all the blessings that God has prepared for us. And because He loves us we can expect to be richly blessed by the Father!

In the meantime, Believer, enjoy His indwelling presence in your heart!

Proverbs 16:4-5

v.4. The LORD made all things for himself, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Although Believers go through trials, they will never ever face the punishment that will be the lot of the unsaved in eternity. Part of that punishment will be everlasting separation from loving God. He made everything for Himself, so is not pleased with Satan and His followers and all unsaved people who have chosen to ignore God's right to their worship of Him. They will get their hearts' desire in that they will not be living with Him in heaven!

v.5. Every one who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD ... he shall not be unpunished.

God is love and wants to love us at all times. But the proud are so because they think they are superior, and so will not be the recipients of His love. This verse does not say that all proud people will be cast away; if they realise they have angered God, they have the opportunity to humble themselves before Him, and be eligible for a place in His Kingdom.

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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 - 13/04/2011

Joshua 7:16-26


Covetousness was Achan's undoing; we must never allow it to control us. Covetousness can happen unconsciously, for example, when we are struggling financially and envy the material well-being we see others enjoying. Paul controlled covetousness by learning contentment no matter what his circumstances (Phil 4:11) . If we remember that:

1. everything - including power, status, wealth, health - will be left behind when we leave this life; and


2. God is waiting to reward us for our service to Him;

then covetousness will be less of a problem.


Joshua 9:1-2


Once we have dealt with sin in our lives, God gives us victory where we previously tasted defeat. Thank God for those victories.


Psalm 82:1-8


God wants us to be just in all our dealings with men. Let us not disappoint Him!


Proverbs 13:2-3


We must be circumspect in our speech, for we cannot be held responsible for things we have not said!

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