Devotion Thoughts - 11/05/2011

1 Samuel 10:1-27; 1 Samuel 11:1-15
10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
How wonderful to know God is with us when we face our daily round! Believers know the presence of God because, after receiving salvation, God dwells within them and they have 'another heart', a heart geared to seeking after God.
It was because the Spirit of God was in Saul that he did not break down in despair like the other Israelites did (11:5,6) but prepared to meet the challenge. Because God indwells believers, we can honour Him by facing all our challenges in the assurance that victory will be ours by letting God control us!

John 6:43-71
6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me has everlasting life.
6:48 I am that bread of life.
6:54 Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; ...
6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, ... You have the words of eternal life.
Some followers of Jesus left when they could not make sense out of His words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. After His death and resurrection, bread and wine were understood to be the symbols of Jesus' body and blood. (Some believers were accused of cannibalism!)
Underlying communion should be an awareness that it not only represents Jesus' death on Calvary, but it requires being born again in order to have eternal life and to partake of communion worthily. Those not born again are not worthy to partake of communion (1 Corinthians 11:27) despite wanting to honour God (Matthew 7:22-23).

Psalm 107:1-43
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 107:1
Paul was also one for giving thanks to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We can never thank Him enough for all the blessings we receive from Him. He is a loving God Who desires to have fellowship with us every day!

Proverbs 15:1-3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place. Pro 15:3
There is no place in the universe that is hidden from God. He sees everything that goes on, not only in the present, but simultaneously in the past and the future. He is Almighty God for Whom nothing is impossible. He created time for us to live in, but He lives in eternity, as do believers who have died ('absent from the body; present with the Lord'; 2 Corinthians 5:8). How good to know that He is fully aware of what is happening in our lives, and will intervene appropriately when necessary!

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Devotion Thoughts - 22/04/2011

Joshua 24:1-33


'Thus said the Lord God' (v.2). Joshua is privileged to be a spokesman for the Lord! Once again he reminds the people of all that God has done to bring them that far,and that they have a choice: serve God, or idols (v.15). Joshua makes it clear that he and his family choose to serve the Lord. We can emulate Joshua by witnessing to the great things God has done for us!


Luke 21:1-28


Far too many Christians feel inadequate; lacking in spiritual gifts and natural talents. They don't have to be. I have previously referred to this parable but here''s something more to encourage you.


A searchlight shines many miles up into the sky, a range a little penlight can never hope to emulate. But each light performs according to the maker's intentions. Some Christians have 'searchlight' size gifts, reaching out to huge crowds; but God still needs 'penlights' to find lost individuals. He made each of us differently for different purposes; we must accept our differences.


Jesus warns us that, for many of His followers, the end times will bring trials and suffering. Remember: they herald His return, and hang in there and rejoice!


Psalm 89:38-52


The psalmist bemoans the suffering that God has allowed to happen to the 'anointed' of Israel. How could He 'set up the right hand of his adversaries' (strengthen them) against Israel? He pleads for the lovingkindnesses promised to David, but in the end (v.52) he still blesses the Lord.


I'm reminded of when Job, even while enduring extreme trials, acknowledged it as God's right to treat everyone as He pleased, and said that even if God should slay him yet he would still rejoice in God (Job 13:15). Paul must have learned the same lesson, for he wrote that he was content no matter what state God brought him to (Philippians 4:11). We, too, should honour God whether things are going well or badly.


Proverbs 13:20-23


In a nutshell: ultimately, sinners will lose out, whereas the righteous will be blessed. An analysis of the entire Bible reveals that this is a central theme. Jesus said, 'My word shall not pass away' (Matthew 24:35).


Unsaved so-called Christians are promoting 'Bible teachings' that do not agree with Biblical truths. They promote warped ideas such as: 'there is no sin or Judgment'. Who am I to believe? Certainly not Satan-inspired, fallible, sinful men with twisted concepts that are at variance with Bible truth (as well as with other non-Christians worldwide). They are not Spirit-led, so will not be consistent even in their errors). I choose to believe Jesus, whose word has proved trustworthy.

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