"...observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."
TO PONDER
Have you ever purchased a new device, maybe a phone or a computer, maybe even some kind of new kitchen appliance or new Smart TV and wondered how to make it work? Sure, you might be able to plug it in and turn it on, but I mean really get it to work, to use all its inbuilt functions and get it working to the best of it's abilities. If you have, you might have done one of two things. Some of us like to see if we can figure out these kinds of problems with intuition. We mash buttons and explore the menu options and hope that in all out 'trying' we might stumble upon the solution. Others understand the wisdom in turning to the manufacturers instructions. Surely the instructions, written by those who built the device should be able to point you in the rights direction.
I often think we approach life in a similar way. Many of us simply try to figure it out ourselves, fumbling and bumbling along, sometimes getting things right but more often messing things up terribly. Others turn to God the author and giver of life, to see how he says it is supposed to work. Funnily enough, when we do life according to the creator's instructions it tends to go much more smoothly. You might even say we prosper. God's rules and laws are there to bring fulness of life not to limit it. If you have been avoiding God's commands, why not give them a try and see if life begins to make more sense?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for the times I think I know better than you and try to figure life out on my own rather that doing things according to your instructions. Help me to always recognise that you created me and know what is best for me and my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness
TO PONDER
I'm pretty sure nobody likes training. Nobody joins a sporting team in order to go to training, you join a team to play games, beat your opponents and win the grand final or premiership game and take home the trophy.
Sometimes I think Christians can be guilty of joining God's team with a similar mindset, made worse by the fact that we know that in Christ we have already joined the winning team. When you know victory is assured, what motivation is there for training?
Yet Paul's second letter to Timothy reminds us that God has given us his Word to 'train us in righteousness'. Training in righteousness is not about assuring our victory, Jesus has already done that, but training in righteousness is about winning others to the kingdom of God. When we learn to listen to God, to follow His word and His instructions, He can use us more easily to reflect His love and grace to the world and draw others to Himself through our training in righteousness.
Do you have someone you have been praying for to come to faith in Jesus? If so then get training! You might be just the instrument God wants to use to make that happen!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I'm sorry when I don't take my spiritual life and righteousness training seriously. Please renew me with your Spirit and help me to see the places where you have work for me to do so that others might see you more easily in me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.
TO PONDER
What do you believe? There seem to be more options for belief than ever before. The weird thing is that most of the things we 'believe' make no difference to anything of any significance. However, what we believe has a significant effect on our behaviour. Do you believe the weatherman's report and dress according to his predictions and forecasts of the weather? Do you believe the advertisers who tell you that the answer to all your problems is 'whatever' they might be trying to sell to you? In the aftermath of the latest NSW elections, do you believe any of what the politicians say, do you believe anything will change or will life continue relatively 'as normal'?
What we believe influences our choices and decision making. Do you believe God has got all your needs covered, or do you still feel like you have to contribute to that effort? Do you believe that God is with you, even when the situation around you is chaotic and filled with grief and pain, or do you believe he is only with you when things are rosy?
What you believe shapes how you react and informs how likely you are to respond obediently to Jesus when he invites you to follow him. Do you believe he will lead you or do you believe you'll be left out on a limb all by yourself?
What do you believe about Jesus?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, please help me to know and trust you more so thatI can always believe that you are with me and body and obediently follow you wherever you call me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
TO PONDER
With every servant of God, they can look back in their lives and watch the processes by which God is developing them for the work that God has in mind for them to accomplish for Him. God knows what He has in mind for their life. God knows what ministry or work that He has in mind for them to fulfill for the kingdom's sake.
God is working in our life as He is preparing us for that work. And one day we will discover that all of our background that we have is all a part of God's plan as He is preparing us as His instruments to do His work. Even at times when we are not aware of God, are not conscious of God, He is there working in our life, preparing our life for the work that God has in mind for us to accomplish.
PRAYER
Lord God, it is comforting to know that you have a plan and purpose for my life. Help me to see and become increasingly aware of your plans for me and help me to follow you by walking boldly in the path that you set before me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
TO PONDER
Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the fear of offending him, will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love, and springs from it. It is consistent with calmness of mind and promotes it. It does not produce terror, but rather delivers from it, and preserves the mind from alarm. In view of God’s great acts and faithfulness, fearing Him is the better part of wisdom. Our obedience expresses reverential trust.
PRAYER
Praise to the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, pondered and studied by all those who delight in them. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endure for ever. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, [Or when it is made known] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
TO PONDER
God’s children know little about the nature of life in the world to come, but we know at least that in some way we will be like Christ. This is good reason for us to become as much like Christ as possible in our present lives. We should be pure in thought and behaviour as Jesus was.
We, as Christians, should remember our privileges. It is our privilege that we are called the children of God. That we bear the name of the family of God is something to keep our feet on the right way. But we are not merely called the children of God; we are, in fact, the children of God. While we are children of God in the sense that we owe our lives to him, we become his children in the intimate and loving sense of the term only by an act of God's initiating grace.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the privilege of being your child. Help me today to live as one of your children, obeying you in all things and bringing glory to you in all that I do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
TO PONDER
When Jesus comes as light to shine on the world, all the wicked are revealed and condemned. They would not come to the light because their deeds were evil. So they will not come to Christ because of their evil deeds. Christ is the light and they don't want to come into that light because it will reveal the truth about them. They love to stay in the darkness. They stay away from the light.
Jesus as light enables us to discriminate between that which is well-pleasing and that which is not pleasing to God. It is in the light of Christ that all motives and all actions must be tested. We are to expose every action, every decision, every motive to the light of Christ.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Thank you that I may walk in your light every day. By your Holy Spirit, help me to reflect your light in my life so that I may bring your light into the lives of those who still walk in darkness. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
TO PONDER
In times of opposition from godless people whose whole lives revolve around material matters, God’s faithful followers can enjoy God’s fellowship now. We can also look forward to divine deliverance and to seeing the Lord one day. Our hope lays in a continuing relationship with God. We find comfort in our relationship with God as being superior to what the wicked enjoyed. We should also know that in addition, when we die, we will go into the Lord’s presence and from then on be with Him.
Nothing but God can satisfy the wishes of a mortal spirit like ours. He made it with infinite capacities and desires; and he alone, the infinite God, can meet and gratify these desires. No soul was ever satisfied but by God; and he satisfies our soul only by restoring it to his image.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would help me to see your face in all things. Help me to be satisfied with all that you do for me and give to me each day. May I always remember the price you paid to make me your own and the love that you have shown me by sending Jesus to die in my place. Help me each day to be more like Jesus. Amen
Today's devotion writer by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,”they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
TO PONDER
Have you ever become so wrapped up in your own thinking and logic that you have talked yourself out of believing what is right there in front of you? It seems like that's kind of what's happening to the Pharisees in this story as they question the formerly blind man about his restored vision. The poor, formerly blind man has given his account of things plainly at least twice already, the man's identity and former blindness have been confirmed, it's clear he can now see! What else is there for him to say, all the evidence is in...and yet still the Pharisees cannot believe that Jesus, the man who performed the healing, has come from God.
Sometimes we can miss what God is doing when he doesn't do things the way we expect. We might be surprised when he turns up in the life of someone who has never set foot inside a church. We might not like it when he shows up obviously in other places with signs and wonders but seems to leave us struggling along on our own but usually the problem is us, we only tend to see what we expect to see.
So what are you looking for, a God who only shows up in the miraculous and spectacular, or a God who shows up in some of the most small and unexpected ways?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to see where you are at work in my life and the lives of those around me. Help me to point out and show others where you are at work and give me the courage and wisdom to see you in every situation. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.