May 26

“And when he heard of Jesus…” Luke 7:3

The centurion’s servant was on point of death. It seems clear from the narrative that being dear to him, the centurion would have made all efforts possible and perhaps expended all he could on physicians, and to seek medical help for his servant, but to no avail. This is not an unfamiliar set of circumstances. Both in what we read in scripture and in what we may experience in our lives, we find many situations, where we come to the end of our resources. We seek help but cannot find it, we hope for solutions but none appear. When empty of answers and without hope, we may become taken with despair, and perhaps become a little more sensitive to the fact that there is One who can help! Christ’s reputation as a healer had come to the centurion’s ears! Someone had spread the news about Jesus and what He could do, and the centurion heard it! When he heard of Jesus, new hope filled his heart.  When he heard of Jesus, a door was opened where there had been none. When he heard of Jesus, faith took hold in place of despair. When he heard of Jesus, he acted quickly on behalf of his servant, pleading that his urgent need may be met. How important it is for us all to remember Who Jesus is; what is can do and what He has already done! How vital for us to allow faith in Him to fill our minds and hearts, and displace the distress and anguish that may plague us, believing that He is the answer to our problems. He holds the key to the door, and is willing to help and meet us in our difficulty with strength, encouragement and answers. Faith and trust in God are both necessary when we walk with Him. Faith says that He is God, and is able to do whatsoever it is we have need of. Trust causes us to rely on His wisdom and will, and accept that He is God and He knows what is best in every circumstance of our lives! We are no doubt personally glad we heard of Jesus, and have verified for ourselves that He loves us and is there for the challenges which face us. We need to make sure that others hear of Him also, so they too can have an opportunity to find out what a close Friend and wonderful Provider He really is! 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 4

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:…” 1 Peter 2:7

A stark contrast is drawn here of what Jesus means to believers, as against those who refuse Him. Christians are often called ‘believers’, because of the common characteristic which distinguishes them - their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for believers both an honour and a privilege to know Jesus and in this relationship they find their greatest comfort. True believers know the value and preciousness found in Jesus, and know that nothing else in life equates to it. This is evidenced by the fact they consider Him to be their closest and most intimate friend, the source and purpose of their being, the One they commit their souls to, and the answer that settles all the questions of life! There is no question that this is a personal, voluntary, real knowledge and experience, so much so, that believers have been willing to lay down everything they have, including life for Jesus. They who shun the Lord, turn away from His principles and reject the salvation He has provided, unknowingly discard the very peace, joy and fulfilment they are seeking in life. They will in vain search for this preciousness in a million other experiences and conditions; yearn for it in all the wrong places and people, but it will be found nowhere - except in Christ Jesus.  To the believer Jesus is the ‘Pearl of great price’, the ultimate gift of God, and the most precious ointment. He is the essence of life itself and the very breath in the lungs. Jesus is our all, for in Him we live, move and have our being!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion