July 17

“A time to rend, and a time to sew…” Ecclesiastes 3:7

The times and seasons of life, are described in this chapter and affect all of us. The literal sense of the text here is understood to refer to a practice rather unknown in our western world, but quite common in the east and particularly in ancient times. In times of grief and self-abasement, or in occasions when great offence was suffered, it was a practice for one’s own clothes to be rent. This showed the great distress and anguish of soul that the individual was experiencing at the time. A tragedy in the family, the loss of a dear one or some other personal calamity, would often result in this response or ritual of tearing clothes, in an expression of unbearable grief or anger. This text speaks to us spiritually, as it reminds us that there may come a time in life, when tearing up or ripping away something out of our lives is necessary. This would be true for instance, of the necessity to utterly remove those things which displease God, and that would hold us back from wholehearted and dedicated service unto Him. Sin cannot be allowed to remain in our souls, nor can it be dealt with gently and kindly, but rather with the force of conviction, it must be torn away from our hearts. The process is not pleasant, but necessary. Conversely there are times of 'sewing'. This may represent those seasons of life when we must assemble concepts and principles in our hearts by patient learning, keep things together, finalise projects, and give shape or form to ideas, goals or promises. Times of painstaking effort, creative application and rewarding growth, should form part of our lives regularly. Accepting the tides and ebbs of life, with humble resignation and determined faith, is necessary. In the journey of life, we cannot always have smooth seas to sail over, and whilst our prayer may call for protection from life’s storms, it must also include a statement of reliance on God, for strength and faith to make it through the storms, should God allow them.  

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July 8

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” Psalms 71:1

A beautiful prayer by the psalmist, which echoes the expression of dependent trust in the Lord, as found in many of the psalms and other portions of scripture. When as believers we place our firm confidence in the Lord, we are safe and kept from the effects of the world and its iniquity. The word rendered ‘confusion’ here is rendered ‘ashamed’ elsewhere and impacts the follower of God in a special way. The only way we can be found in confusion, that is without clear direction, or lacking in balanced thinking and knowledge, is if we have violated God’s law and become tainted with sin. The same can be said of the word ashamed. For the Christian, shame comes when he trespasses against the God he claims to serve and forsakes the principles which he professes to uphold. This is the shame of poorly lived Christianity! It gives rise to much criticism and opportunity for contempt, from those who are yet unbelievers and want to see the evidence of God’s love, grace and holiness, in the lives of Christ’s followers. This then is the emphasis of this prayer and an apt invocation for all who believe, for though we may stand, we should always take care and humbly ask God’s assistance, lest we fall! The cry of this trusting heart seems to say: “Lord I place my hope and confidence in you, and mean to hold on in faith, walking in your grace and holiness, but help me Lord, because I am weak in myself, and cannot stand without you! Uphold me and don’t let me fall, because when I sin, I bring shame on myself, my profession of faith and most of all You Lord!” It is an expression of humility which does not allow for overconfidence in one’s own ability or strength! It is not unlike the statement we hear from the father of that tormented child, whom Jesus freed from an evil spirit. When challenged by the Lord to believe for his son’s deliverance, the man cried out and said with tears: “Lord I believe; help thou my unbelief’! There was an admission of faith, and yet a request for Jesus to make up, as it were, the lack on his part, should his faith not be strong enough to obtain the blessing! Let us fully trust the Lord, and be humble and willing to call for His everlasting arms to support us, in the daily toils of life, and to strengthen us in our faith towards Him, and in our stand against sin, that we be not ashamed, nor bring shame on His holy name! 

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July 5

“…thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:” 2Chronicles 6:8

In these verses Solomon reiterates the direction God gave his father David, regarding the building of the temple. It had been David’s desire to build the house of God that Israel might have a place in which to worship Yahwah. God had recognised, acknowledged and praised this heartfelt sentiment, but had also forbidden David to be the one to erect the sanctuary. David had been a man of war, and though a man after God’s own heart, the Lord had determined that his son would be the one to construct the place of worship. Many times we find this same principle in God’s word. God’s will, must be fulfilled God’s way. The will of God includes the timing of God and the way in which God wants it to be done. When we violate any of those parameters, we cannot say we have done God’s will. The costliest mistakes made by God’s servants in doing His will, often involved forsaking, omitting or adding some detail to that which God had commanded. Our heart’s motivation may be appropriate and commendable, but our obedience to God must remain complete and of the highest order. Our heart’s yearnings must not surpass our desire to obey the Lord, or supersede our complete submission to His will. Presenting the sacrifice of obedience to God, must therefore be done in clear reflection of His holiness, and in a manner acceptable unto the Lord, in order to be correct and righteous. David loved God, and did not allow his desire, however pure, noble and laudable, to overtake his absolute compliance to Yahwah’s instructions. Let us be like David, showing God the intensity and depth of our love for Him, by our complete, willing and humble obedience of His will! 

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June 26

“After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.” Job 3:1

Much has been written on Job, his patience and faithfulness in his relationship with God. This verse is a clear reminder that even men who have grown in relative perfection and in such graces of God as patience, compassion and generosity, are yet human and capable, under circumstances of pressure, pain and affliction, to open their mouths and utter things which may be unwise, negative or unedifying! This is not to say that if a believer expresses sorrow, disappointment or another negative feeling, he is automatically sinning. Sin can take hold however, if we do not deal with the negative emotions correctly, give place to them, and become controlled by them. Instead we should yield them to God and trust Him for help, solutions and strength to overcome. Job had by this time endured seven days of mourning after the loss of all his family, possessions and health, without apparent relief to his condition, and he does something here, which was not unusual among the people of his time, when they were faced with intense distress and sorrow – he curses the day he was born. Although this may be considered a slip in his spiritual compass, let us note a few things which may be explanatory. Firstly, Job did not ‘curse’ God as the devil had falsely predicted, and his wife had so callously incited, nor did he curse anyone else or even himself as creatures of God. In fact he did not even curse the present condition and suffering he found himself in. Secondly, it is questionable that man can of his own accord, actually ‘curse’ anything, since such power lies outside his ability, and is therefore merely reflective of an attitude or desire to do so, if only it were possible. Thirdly, he turned his despair and ill will, towards something that could not be changed nor was in any way in his control, making his ‘cursing’, a mere token expression of his inner despair, his discomfort and disconsolate situation. Lastly, later in the narrative of his life, we find Job repenting of anything he may have spoken unwisely and without due regard toward God. He was conscious that even this moment of negative expression from his lips, should have been avoided. Such cursing isn’t necessarily saying any bad word or oath, but a wishing that the event, in this case his birth, had never taken place. Jeremiah stated something similar (Jer 20:14-18) when he was in distress over Israel rejecting God’s word and torturing God’s prophets. The reasoning behind this expression of negative emotion is that the present suffering and distress, which is so painful and discomforting, would not have taken place if the individual had not been born; we would relate it to the expression - ‘sorry you were ever born’. So whilst it is an expression of suffering humanity, it is nevertheless inappropriate for the believer to make such a statement, because it reflects a lack of acceptance that God is in control of all things. If we truly know and believe that Yahwah is Omniscient, then not only the time and event of our birth, but all the details of every aspect of our human lives are known to Him, and ultimately in His control. True faith, in spite of our despairing humanity, would call and demand that we remember this fact. It would encourage us to believe that somehow God’s mind, His wisdom and plan is perfect and higher than what we can comprehend in our despair, appropriate to us by His allowance, and that we should take nothing in our hands and away from His, even if only in token complaint or misplaced desire, born out of our human  affliction. This high standard of trust and reliance upon God is a goal of all true believers, and it is only from God that we can draw the strength to perform our lives in this manner and remain pleasing to the Lord. 

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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! 

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May 3

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

Strength is tested in all of us, not in times of ease and comfort, but in days of adversity, trouble and distress. The nature and degree of the difficulty we may face can have a lot to do with the response we give to it. Naturally the concept is relative to each individual. This can be seen by the fact that various people react and deal differently when faced with similar adversarial situations. One factor of this concept is what the bible here calls ‘strength’. This quality has a great deal to do with whether we ‘faint’, that is become easily depleted and defeated by the challenge which faces us. The strength, by which we are able to withstand trials and difficulties in life, is not a personal or character asset alone. It is a fortitude which comes from the faith which we are able to place in God, whose ability never fails or runs out. Time and again Jesus admonished His disciples for having ‘little faith’ in God. This did not mean they were not sincere or able to believe at all, but that they had not yet matured or grown sufficiently in their relationship with the Lord to believe further, and last the distance with the challenges that faced them. The Lord’s caution to His disciples was to encourage them to further growth, stretching their hearts with faith and trust in God. In other words a measurement of our ‘strength’ in spiritual terms, has to do with how much we are able to lean on God and believe in Him. This is not automatically related to our ‘age’ physically or even spiritually, but is more so, the outflow of a maturity found in holding and fostering a deep and loving, holy relationship with Jesus! If we fail to nurture a closeness and intimacy with God, we are more than likely going to faint easily in the day of adversity. Our spiritual resolution and determination, will easily give way to despondency and dejection. We are not all that durable when we face life and trials in our own strength alone! As believers particularly, we have the responsibility to learn how to lean on Jesus, rely on His strength, through faith in His principles and closeness to Him. This trust and dependence on the Lord provides the strength, wisdom, courage and steadfastness we need to remain, persist and endure in times of difficulty and trial. 

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Apr 21

“And if a man also strive for masteries…” 2 Timothy 2:5

It is a desire in the heart of many individuals to make whatever effort is necessary in order to master and achieve a goal. The ‘masteries’ alluded to in the verse, refer to the public or Olympic games for which competing athletes train rigorously and strive diligently. Although perhaps not in the sports arena, the same concept of striving to excel, exists in many other areas of life. It is because of this potential for greatness and achievement that this is a notable thought for believers. In our service for Christ we are called to excellence. Taking an attitude of mere mediocrity, a stance of ‘barely there is good enough’, is not acceptable to God, nor does it bring Him the honour and glory of which He is worthy. Just like the trained athlete, we too are to perform our best in serving God, and to do this we must ‘strive’. This presumes effort, sacrifice and discipline. When as Christians we do not exert ourselves, stretch with effort and vigorously pursue the ways of God, we are deemed lukewarm, indifferent, and cannot expect to be counted among those who by faithfulness and consistency, receive a ‘crown’. The difference between striving for the mastery of the Christian walk, and any other ‘competition’, is that we are not really competing against anyone else. In this toil and effort of living an exemplary Christian life, we can all win, if we so choose. It is not about who crosses the finish line of a holy life first, but simply about who will cross the finish line at all! The determination of ‘victory’ then is not done by a comparison with others, but a comparison with God’s will and word. That means that each of us in our own way can fulfil and achieve the mastery of living for God! Jesus left a big question for us to answer as individuals:  “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” We must desire with all of our heart to answer a resounding ‘yes’ to this question. To be able to live to the standard of faithfulness which Jesus is expecting to find at His return, it will take the same desire, dedication and discipline that we attribute to successful and renowned athletes. There are no shortcuts or ‘cheats’ that can be used and invoked, such means only bring disrepute and dishonour. Striving righteously and according to God’s law and word, in His strength and for His glory, will bring the ultimate result for the believer, the crown of life and righteousness for eternity!

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Apr 3

 “…If thou wilt go with me, then I will go…” Judges 4:8

The Israelites had again turned from God and committed evil against Yahwah. Their punishment from God came in the form of a take-over by the Canaanites, who oppressed them for twenty years. The people cried to God for deliverance this was during the time of Deborah the judge. Directed by the Lord, Deborah called on Barak, a mighty warrior, to lead the people of Israel against Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite host. An army of ten thousand was raised to fight the enemy, but the odds were greatly against them, since the Canaanites had 900 chariots of iron in their armed force. These were swift and conventional hand weapons virtually ineffective against them, not unlike the armoured tanks of today’s warfare. God however, had promised to go before Barak and grant Him victory.  Such situations have existed in the lives of many of the great men whom God called to do battle in His name. Often the human odds and resources are against the people of God, but the Lord is more than sufficient to supply the victory His people need. Barak believed Deborah, but hesitated in carrying out the directive of the Lord, without her presence at the battle site. It should not be necessary for us, to have anyone at our side but the Lord, in any endeavour we undertake for Him; yet it is true of our human nature, that many times we are encouraged to step out in faith, when someone else, who is likeminded, a person we feel we can trust, is there with us. It is also true to say that if our primary focus is seeing the work of God performed at the best possible level, then we will want to involve the best possible people, without concern as for who gets the acclaim.  The goal and reward is the success of the outcome and the knowledge we have served God aright! Barak is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, among those who displayed faith, trusted God and went on to win a victory for His glory. It appears he was not consumed with self-importance, or anxious about personal honour. He was content to be a tool in God’s hand, to bring about a great victory for the Lord and Israel, without caring much about the credit or the reputation associated with it. He is therefore a reminder to us, to be people of faith, willing to obey God even when we may be reluctant, and rejoicing to see the work of God done, not for personal approbation, but for the glory of God.

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Mar 7

“... Hearts...might be comforted, being knit together in love…” Colossians 2:2

Our text expresses the comfort and encouragement, experienced by those who are united in faith to God. Christians are well acquainted with the distresses and trials of life, the rigours of persecutions and the challenges of reaching the lost. All such things add to the ‘discomfort’ that may be experienced as we walk ‘in Christ’. Yet God has not left His people without comfort! He not only sent the ‘Comforter’ - His Holy Spirit, to fill, empower and guide the believer, but He has also ensured that our hearts may find comfort in the reality of the companionship, fellowship and brotherhood that exist within the Church. The bonds of this company of blood-washed, redeemed individuals are strong! God’s family is meant to be close-knit and cohesive. Like the sinews and tendons that hold the joints of our bodies, even so the members of the Body of Christ, are held together by the strong bonds of the truth and love, which God has imparted to them. This is the mortar that joins each brick in the building and forms the edifice of God! The brethren that belong to the family of God, are not meant to be disavowed, distanced acquaintances, empty of common purpose and devoid of interest and love for one another.  The opposite is true! God’s will for us is that we are ‘knitted together’ into a solid, unified ‘oneness’, fused with the ‘glue’ of His amazing love, and motivated by His Spirit to carry out His godly and spiritual purposes! May the hearts of those who willingly put aside their own program of life, and embrace God and His ways, find in Jesus, and in the wonderful family of God, the joy, comfort and strength of His love, and the blessing of intimate unity.

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Feb 24

“…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

The two children seated in the back seat of the car fought and tugged at each other over a sweet which one of them had, and the other wanted. Their cries and fuss attracted their mother’s attention who listened to their stories amidst sobs and accusations. After a brief and stern caution, she produced a second sweet and settled their matter in an instant. James addresses the human trait we are all so familiar with. We quarrel and fight, envy and want but fail to get, because instead of coming to the Source of all things, we attempt to get what we want by our own means. Never satisfied, we no sooner manage to snatch some advantage or prize, that we turn our attention and craving to something else, for which we will again struggle and fuss. Just like those children, but in a much more severe way, and for all sorts of reasons, we litigate, afflict, battle and attack others, for the things we think we want, when our Heavenly Father has all we need and want at heart right there at our disposal. All we need do is ask in faith, without pride, and empty of envy towards others. Ask for the correct and righteous reason of receiving from God, so that we may bring glory to Him, by that which He gives us. Many times we remain ‘empty handed’ only because we fail to ask God, or because we do ask, but with the wrong motives in heart and mind. God is a fair and just Father, He will give to us what He knows is best for us to serve Him and to do His will. Should something be withheld, it is probably because in His wisdom God knows it is better that it is not given to us – either at this time, or ever. In all things He has our best interests at heart. Accepting this relationship, in true ‘child-like’ faith, will probably spare us a great deal of heartache and strife. Ultimately we need to remember that all we have or are likely to receive, will come from the Lord through sincere asking in prayer. To that we may only add the willingness to work hard, labour honestly and willingly, while giving due consideration to the needs of others.

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Feb 10

“…it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:6

Abraham walked by faith. Faith and righteousness are presented as related yet distinct in scripture. It is because we believe God that His righteousness is imputed to us. The mental assent of faith and even the action of faith, does not of itself beget righteousness, until the ‘object’ of that faith is clearly exhibited – that object is Jesus! Abraham’s action of faith was not the reason for righteousness being accounted to him, but the fact that his faith and obedience was placed in the Lord and His word. We can say then, that what authorises and validates our faith, whether it is expressed in our heart or shown by our actions and obedience, is the fact that it is located and fixed in Christ! As such it displays in us Christ’s righteousness, and we become a reflector of Him and His virtue! This is important because many have a ‘faith’ which can be considered genuine, though misplaced. Their ‘faith’ may be in human abilities such as science or technology, or in entities which they may consider ‘divine’. Never will such faith bring about righteousness with the One True God however, regardless of how well intentioned, strong or sincere it may be! Not until Jesus Christ is the sole and central object of a person’s faith, can true and godly righteousness be attributed and assigned to that individual! Even with Christians faith can often be misplaced. Some place their faith and make their belief system, their church organization, human ministry or acts of devotion. These things cannot of themselves bring about the righteousness of God! Abraham-like faith, a faith which acts and demonstrates its value through genuine obedience, is accounted for righteousness because it has as its clear object the Lord Jesus, it is firmly placed in God as the absolute authority, and is based on the validation of His Word!

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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!

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Jan 19

“Hearing of thy love and faith…” Philemon 1:5

Philemon’s godly life and the love he bore towards God and the fellow-believers made Paul joyful and thankful. There is a reputation of godliness and diligence, which should precede those who are true Disciples of Christ. It is not a status, achieved through personal boasting, advertising of one’s virtues or self-promotion of any kind! The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were bent on attracting attention to their spirituality through such means. It is rather that which God brings forth in us and others are able to communicate, having experienced for themselves the reality of the fruit, which the faithful servant abundantly bears unto the Lord. There can be no pretence about this. It cannot be a strummed up ‘character reference’, without supporting ‘documentation’! The enduring quality of the individual’s life, his loving interaction with peers and the longevity of his service and diligence, become the ‘unwritten’ documents, which underpin the claims of godliness others may proffer about him!  Though some may appear in the shorter term to bear such fruit, it is over the longer period of service in Christ, that such fruit and the reality of it is validated and verified. A tree may bear good fruit for one season, but if after that it fails to raise a crop, or its fruit is stunted and sickly, it will hardly be sought after. A good tree and one worthy of commendation, on the other hand, is one which continues to bear good fruit, season after season, and is reliable for the quality and quantity of its produce. Clearly as Christians also, it is not a matter of merely having some spiritual fruit, some of the time, but rather, as God’s Word exhorts, that it should be plentiful and remain - that is be more permanent in nature. This is how godly reputation is formed. It cannot be the result of a single effort, just a season of well-doing followed by periods of indifference and fits of tepidity, nor a resting of previous ‘laurels’ of achievement, without present signs. It must stem from ongoing, active and evident, submission to the ways of God in love and faith, and from assiduousness to fulfil the law of Christ towards others, which is the law of love. Such a fruitful life brings great rejoicing to those who lead, and great inspiration to all who follow Christ!

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Jan 18

“Who will render to every man according to his deeds:” Romans 2:6

God is a loving Saviour and a just Judge. In the same way that His love reaches out and touches every human being with the offer and gift of salvation to be accepted by faith, so also no-one can escape the hand of God in judgment. The Lord justifies the sinner on the grounds of faith in Him, a faith shown by obedience to His Word and not by the works of the law. In this is our salvation, through His work at Calvary, we can add nothing by our own doing, but only identify with the death, burial and resurrection by which He purchased our salvation. When it comes to justification of our character as believers however, each man will find God also ready to render or return to him, according to the ‘deeds’ done in his body! To ignore this aspect of God’s requirement, or rebel against the righteousness He desires of us, is to merit God’s indignation and wrath, according to our text. In fact, this is the basis of God’s judgment, not His work of salvation in us, which is perfect, but the manner of our walking with Him. When we will stand at judgment, we will be aligned with the requirements of God’s Law - His Word, and measured by His holy standard! This will not be a comparison between men to find a ‘better-than-another’, or a measurement based on our own understanding and preference. It will not be a competition as to who has been superior in doing or serving. It will be a personal and individual alignment with the revealed will of God for each of us, to see just how faithful we have been in our obedience of it, and how steadfast we have remained in our quest to become more like Jesus. God has already given us in His Word, all the directions and instruction we need to bring forth the kind of fruit which pleases Him and will mark us as the Children of the Light, the Overcomers who enter in. All that remains is to carry out our devoted, committed obedience and diligence to the Lord. In this pursuit we must remain faithfully till the end, that we may show ourselves worthy of the calling we have received, and demonstrate beyond mere words, genuine thankfulness for the salvation He has provided!  

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Jan 12

“….that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” Philippians 4:2

We are throughout scripture instructed and encouraged to strive for the unity of the faith. Although this is to be done without compromise of the main core tenets of the faith, it is intended to be a necessary exercise, practiced by all who profess to follow Jesus. Unity in the faith is achieved through choosing the bond of peace, the attitude that prioritises others instead of ourselves. Rivalry and self-ism is inappropriate and dangerous among believers. We are therefore to make efforts towards a one-mindedness, finding common ground on which to stand and unite our efforts for the Kingdom. This is not to say that we are all to be mere ‘rubber-stamp- copies of each other, but rather that we should all draw closer to the mind of Christ, and in imitating Him, be in fact nearer in mind, heart and purpose to each other. Like a team on one side of the rope in a ‘tug-a-war’, though each member grips in a different place on the rope, yet all pull together, have the same goal and contribute to the same victory! Being of one mind, still allows for our personal and individual growth, personality and approach to various aspects of life, but standardises what we believe, how we respond to matters regarding Christian living, and what we preach to the lost around us. One-mindedness causes us to recognise what God is doing with our fellow-believers and without envy and resentment, and genuinely support the work they do. When we insist on individuality, personal superiority and recognition, ahead of keeping ‘one-mind’ humility in the message of Christ, we will end up in divisions and debates, and the very cause of Christ we uphold will suffer. There is much to be said for the beauty, peace and harmony that come from a genuine ‘one-mind’ approach to Christian life. The women mentioned in our text, though they had possibly co-operated in the work of God, had probably at some stage, and through circumstances, become estranged. This kind of distancing places a burden on the body of Christ, for any such division between brethren of precious like faith, is felt and noticeable. Paul exhorts them and pleads for differences to be put aside and oneness restored, that God’s work may be done in a spirit of true unity and love. This is good advice to all of us believers today!

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Jan 9

 “In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.” Psalms 120:1

There had been great times of rejoicing in David’s life, but he was also well acquainted with sorrow and distress. With David we too can truly say that the Lord is the God of the good times, and yet He is still God in the bad and troubled times. In the seasons of difficulty, anguish and pain, we may feel alone and ill-equipped to cope with the misery that life can bring. Friends are not always there for us or able to help and understand. Although these are not the only times when we should remember to call on the Lord, it is most appropriate that we do so. The Lord is prompt and ready to hear us, He does not slumber or sleep, and is not put off by the difficulty of our request. Though God is supreme and can select to answer us as He chooses, we have an assurance that He will heed our cries and that He is interested in us and our troubles. Faith to trust Jesus, and believe for His intervention and provision, is necessary if we are to be blessed by the Lord. We all know we will be faced with turmoil and struggles in life, as wise servants of the Lord, we therefore ought to uphold a strong, holy and pleasing walk with God at all times, so when the storms hit, as we know they will, we will find harbour, solace and assurance in the God who can calm the sea!

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Jan 5

“…Like … the young lion roaring on his prey, …. he will not be afraid of their voice,…” Isaiah 31:4

The prophet describes the Lord’s action as He is intent on carrying out His judgement. Like a young and vigorous lion, unafraid and unconcerned of those who may turn against Him, He will conduct His purpose and carry out His will! God has everything under control and will not be unsettled or hurried by anyone. We may feel there are lapses in His timing, or periods of inactivity where we see little or no results, but God is at work all the while, in His way and His timing. When His purpose is ready to be carried out, there is no power on earth that can distract Him from His objective or detract from His result. There are many voices which cry against the Lord and His Word. Some have great followings and establish movements dedicated to the detraction and removal of God from His rightful place in human consciousness. These all will pass away - like the kings and kingdoms of past eras, that considered themselves potent and yet have faded and vanished away, so too will all those who would reduce and diminish the Almighty, become but distant whispers of the past. They will pass away, but the Lord will endure forever. God remains unconcerned about the voices of man and their statements of grandeur and the challenges they proffer. His judgments will come on fallen and rebellious humanity, who has rejected His love and salvation, even as He has promised. Those who trust in God, trust in He who will not be moved! He is everlasting and His purposes established from eternity. He will keep the faithful from all alarm and show them the path of eternal life.


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

Jan 3

“…but Hannah had no children.” 1 Samuel 1:2

Israelite women knew that the Messiah, whom God would send, would be born of a woman. Child bearing was viewed as the ultimate blessing from the Lord and when a woman was incapacitated to this task and privilege, she considered herself in the worst of conditions. Hannah was a God-fearing woman and was not prepared to accept her lot in life without a heartfelt, passionate and desperate appeal, to the only One who could help her in her situation. In spite of the calumny of some around her, or even the accepting encouragements of a loving husband, who attempted to fill the unfillable gap in her heart, she threw herself at the mercy of the Lord. Her trembling lips moved, and though her prayer was silent in terms of human sounds, yet it shouted the cry of her soul to heaven’s throne! It has been said, and quite accurately, that ‘a heart without words is better than words without a heart”! God heard Hannah’s prayer and she received her heart’s desire, but the Lord went even further in His response to her - He blessed her with a child who would become a great prophet and servant of God. Hannah’s devotion and faith, teaches us to look to and trust in God for answers to all of life’s tough questions. In every situation and particularly those where we feel least able to face and in control, and are sure no-one could possibly help or understand - God can and does! We can lean on the everlasting arms of the Almighty God, who is ever ready to hear the cry and passionate pleas of His people.


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