In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
TO PONDER:
The search for the Holy Grail. The secret of eternal youth. The path to immortality. The quest for meaning and significance. These pursuits have been undertaken for centuries. They appear in Greek and Roman mythology and have been made into movies. The ideas are used my marketers to offer us a formula, a vitamin, a fitness plan, a product, a business opportunity or strategy that will enhance or enrich our lives. The world is full of opinions on where to find meaning, purpose or significance in life. The Bible offers one. It's not a quest, it's not a product. It can't be bought and it can't be earned. It's always been there and it's no secret. Identity, meaning, purpose, significance and life is found in relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God, spoken into our lives that creates, redeems and sustains life. He gives identity, he provides meaning, purpose and significance, he restores life and secures eternal life... for all people. A relationship with Jesus. Life with Jesus illuminates the way ahead, whatever darkness, trouble, obstacle, challenge or difficulty we face.
So two thoughts to ponder today. 1. Am I living my life in relationship with Jesus? and 2. As I encounter people today and hear their search for life, for meaning, for significance, for purpose, for clarity, for help, am I sharing with them and revealing to them the life that is available to them in Jesus?
PRAYER:
Jesus, Word of God, in the midst of a world of opinions and claims to know the secret to life, you are life. Help me to live my life in relationship with you. Help me to reveal and point others to your life today. Amen.
The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ``Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" And He said to them, ``Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: `THIS PEOPLE HONOURS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. `BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' ``Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
TO PONDER:
False Advertising. We've all seen it. Prices marked up from normal retail and then discounted to the normal price! We've seen companies falsely claim that their product has certain health benefits that it does not. Or we have seen a product advertised and you go to the shop and they don't have it...but something similar at a greater price! They are not delivering what they advertise.
But I wonder, have we ever considered that as Christians we might be guilty of false advertising? Do we advertise that we are Christian and yet deliver something quite different? Has our false advertising rendered our testimony unbelievable? For example, we say with our lips that we trust God to give us this day our daily bread but we spend our time thinking about how we can win the lotto! Or the value of Christian service we advertise, we don't deliver on. Jesus has some hard words to say about that sort of false advertising. He wants what comes out of our mouth and the extension of our lives to reflect the new heart that he has given us through his death and resurrection. So today maybe think about what you are advertising, and whether what you say is what you deliver!
PRAYER:
Lord God, may may life be a true advertisement of the life I have in you. Amen.
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
TO PONDER:
Everything in this world will pass away and change. It’s the same in every culture. Governments come and go. So do people. Even our bank balance goes up and down, but more down! Putting our trust, our hope in the things of this world which won’t last, seems foolish. But that’s what so many people do. Why not be wise and put your trust and hope in something that remains forever – God’s word. Whatever happens, that is something we can count on in every situation.
PRAYER
Dear faithful and loving Father, thank you for giving us your living word. It helps us to know the truth, for through your words we know we are loved by you. We pray that all the people around the world will come to know you, believe you and trust in your living word. Amen.
Today's devotion by Pastor Khit Vibol, LifeWay Cambodia's Church plant and pastor.
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
TO PONDER:
Paul, the apostle of Jesus, encourages Timothy to remain faithful in serving God. He tells Timothy not to forget what he has been taught by his family, but to keep trusting, believing and standing in the truth. All of Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to guide and teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It sets us on the right path when we stray and teaches us to do what is right, loving God and others. God uses his word to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
There are so many good books in this world and so many writers who are really good at writing. But only the Bible is God’s living word that has power to change and transform the lives of those who read it and take it to heart. There are no other books better then the Bible. We need to trust and believe in all the Scriptures and let it shape our lives.
Prayer
Dear God our Father, we thank you for giving us the Bible, your living word. Help us to love your word believing and trusting your word, and sharing that word with all the people around us because only your word can save them and give them hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Today's devotion is written by Pastor Khit Vibol, LifeWay Cambodia's Church planter and pastor.
``For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
TO PONDER:
Through these verses God is telling everyone of us that whenever, wherever we share God’s word to the people around us the Word of God will do its work in their life. The Holy Spirit will be active, leading and helping them to understand and believe the truth of Jesus Christ.
God’s Word is a living word and has power to transform the life of the people. It encourages me to keep preaching and sharing God’s word to the people around me. This week I had a good opportunity to share God’s word at the High School we gave money to build up the road by encouraging students to study hard and set goals in their life. There were around 475 students hearing God’s word at this secondary school in our community. I believe that God will take his Word shared to lead and guide the students to know him and put their trust in him. Like a seed we plant in the ground, we may not see how the seed of the tree is growing day by day, but one day we look again and see how just a word shared leads to a tree that is big and bearing fruit. So let’s trust God’s word and share it, knowing this promise from God.
Prayer
Dear God the Father thanks for giving us the Bible, the book of truth and your living word. We trust and believe that you Word has power to transform lives. Please lead us and help us to keep reading your Word, proclaiming and sharing your word. Amen.
Today's devotion is shared by Pastor Khit Vibol, our LifeWay Cambodia Church Planter and Pastor.
They tell of the power of your awesome works- and I will proclaim your great deeds.
TO PONDER
Our most remarkable holiday was our safari to East Africa particularly the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania. Our camp was on the border with the Kenyan Maasai Mara on the Mara River. The Olduvai Gorge is in this region where Professor Leakey discovered many hominid fossils including Homo Sapiens. This area is referred to as the cradle of mankind.
We were blessed to witness the migration of the wildebeests and zebras, the largest migration in the world with 800,000 animals crossing from Kenya to Tanzania. This park is located in the East Rift Valley and people are not allowed to live in this area with no hunting, and no guns. There are a few approved camps controlled tightly by the government.
On our game drives, we saw the magnificent animals up close living in the paradise that God created. At night we lay in our canvas tents listening to the animals walking two metres away. They were not interested in us!
Creation is full of God's awesome works, let's celebrate and share them with each other!
Prayer
Thank you God for allowing us to see your creative power and amazing works in your creation. Help us to see the work you continue to do in and through our lives and proclaim your great deeds to all the world.
Today's devotion written by Paul and Ruth Niemczyk, LifeWay Epping.
And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
TO PONDER
When we knew that we had a pandemic in February 2020, I believed that God shows his new mercies every day and that it would not be long before we had a vaccine. I prayed every day for a vaccine that would prevent serious illness. I prayed with my family, friends and Life Groups for scientists to develop a vaccine. The power of prayer demonstrating God’s holiness and greatness is incredible.
By December 2020 there were over 200 vaccine candidates for Covid 19 registered with the World Health Organisation and 70 of these went on to have clinical trials. I was able to have my first vaccine in July 2021 and was delighted that God provided this protection through scientists and researchers all around the world. It is important that we see how God is at work in all things, including science and human endeavour.
PRAYER
Dear God we praise your great deeds and holiness and recognise that you can work through medical researchers to create effective treatments that will protect your people. Thank you dear Lord for your great works including our deliverance from a great pandemic.
Today's devotion written by Paul and Ruth Niemczyk, LifeWay Epping
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
TO PONDER
The treasure that Paul refers to is the light of the gospel, the message of Jesus and the glory of God reflected in Jesus. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. This verse encourages believers to embrace and follow the way of Jesus that transforms lives.
When I attended the Billy Graham crusade in Sydney, I was thirteen years of age and an active member of our Anglican church. I declared my Christian beliefs and followed the way of Jesus. I became a Sunday school teacher and contemplated being a missionary in Papua New Guinea. I was also a keen member of the International School Christian Fellowship at my high school but in all of this I was first and foremost a child of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the greatest treasure.
TO PONDER
Dear Lord, help us to treasure the treasure in jars of clay and to acknowledge that the all surpassing power is from you.
Today's devotion written by Paul and Ruth Niemczyk, LifeWay Epping
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
TO PONDER
The prophet Micah lived between 700 and 650 BC. His message alternates prophecies of doom and hope. You need to read 5:3 with 5:4.
I don’t know about you, but going to Sunday school, lessons from the Old Testament were about doom, gloom, wars, crime and punishment. Original sin (Adam and Eve), the Great Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah are stories I remember well.
Our verses today are a departure from the norm. They bring hope to us all. God is telling us that a Messiah will be born of a woman. He will come to save us in the majesty of the Lord His God. These short verses have reinforced my belief that God has been signalling his plan to save all of us over a very long time. It has modified my perception that the Old Testament is all doom and gloom.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for your Holy Book and your prophet’s words to us to give us hope in your love and the plans you have for all your people.
Today's devotion written by Paul and Ruth Niemczyk, LifeWay Epping