Aug 6

“…Hear…. the statutes and judgments…..that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.” Deuteronomy 5:1

Moses, Israel’s leader called the people together that they may hear, learn, keep and do the commandments of God. In the New Testament, Jesus similarly told us that it is a wise man, who both hears the word of God and performs it. Hearing only without the doing of it, results in failure and tragedy. How appropriate that this all important concept is consistently presented in both Testaments of the Bible. Knowledge of the things of God is all important, for without it there is no opportunity to do righteousness. To that end, God has gone to immense trouble and pains and ensured that His Word has reached the ears of humanity all over the world. The Bible is the most sold book in the world, and has been translated in more languages than any other! Particularly in our western world, it is not lack of information or opportunity to do well that lacks. Sadly our problem is by far more serious. We are guilty of having heard long and plenty of God’s directions, instructions, commandments and warnings, but having turned a deaf ear. Overall as western nations, we have turned our hearts, minds and choices away from God and His purposes, rather than towards Him. Naturally this is done to our own detriment, for we are accountable and it will be required from all of us, by the Almighty and Just God! Wise is the man that heeds the instruction of Moses and Jesus, firstly to hear the statutes and judgements of God, then to learn, keep and obey. This first step of ‘hearing’ in itself requires our commitment and willingness to apply time and effort. In the busy lives we have made for ourselves, we find it increasingly difficult to ‘make time’ for God and His word. The single greatest excuse for people not being at church or making time to listen to the teaching or preaching of God’s word is ‘lack of time’. We are too busy with other things and prioritise all else ahead of the necessity for God. There is still plenty of time to listen to one’s favourite music, or watch one’s favourite shows, but time for God is simply too big a stretch in many cases. The next level of commitment however, is even more relevant. Some in response to guilty consciences, a sense of what is right or due to peer or family pressure actually take time to be ‘at church’ or attend bible studies, but this too means little unless it is followed with a heart to learn, remember and do what is heard! Again in other areas of life, we find no difficulty with this aspect. We allow the lyrics of our favourite songs to be so imprinted in our brains that we can scarcely forget them, and we can easily recount to friends in vivid detail the scenes from our favourite shows, games or activities! Should even the smallest amount of the same attention and passion be paid to the Word of God, we might find that our lives and the lives of others would be impacted in very powerful and positive ways! Jesus is still looking for faithful servants who will not only listen, but learn, remember and perform His word. He says this is the test of our true love for Him. How does our personal life line up with this all important biblical standard? 

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

Mar 9

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life…” 2Timothy 2:4

One of the difficult realities of Christian living, is to accept that as believers, we are at war. Our battle is not against ‘flesh and blood’, but a life-long confrontation against spiritual powers, against our own flawed human nature and against the swelling tide and influence of the world. It is a real conflict, a struggle in day to day living, against all that would dissuade us from pursuing God, and cause us to fail in our love and service to Him. Paul instructs Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, enduring and tough against anything that would turn him from this first and primary calling. We too are to take note of this instruction, and make it ours. We must settle once and for all the priority of our lives, and ensure that it is and remains - Jesus and our faithful service unto Him. In days of old and particularly among the Romans, when a man became a soldier, it was not a casual undertaking or a part time profession. The army became his entire life, calling and vocation. He was not allowed to pursue any other occupation in life. A soldier could not also be a farmer, trader or business owner. His focus, interest and time could not be split or given to anything else, but being the best soldier he could be. Paul takes this fact, as an illustration to show us the reality of our calling and vocation to God. Like a good soldier for Christ, we cannot afford to become ‘entangled’ with other affairs of life. Successful Christian living is the result of making our obedience and service to Jesus, the priority of our lives. Paul is not saying we cannot have family, a job or own a house. He is saying that as true Christians, we should be soldiers unto the Lord, and therefore cannot become ‘entangled’ that is, ensnared, caught up and limited by these things, so that we can no longer effectively serve God, and fight the good fight of faith. Honesty on our part would declare how real and common this mistake is. It is easy to become so absorbed and engrosses in pursuing a ‘living’, providing for our families and generally taking care of the physical needs and necessities, that we lose sight of spiritual ones. When the cares of life have taken over in our priorities, and service in God’s army is a mere façade rather than a true profession, prayer ceases amidst the busyness of daily life, or at best becomes a recited repetition. Meditating on God’s Word is relegated to a quick read of words from ‘the book’, with little or no thought attached to them; and evangelism becomes something someone else is called to do. Attending church becomes optional, and secondary to other interests, responsibilities or our feelings at the time; while Christian fellowship with brethren, becomes a luxury we have no time for. Jesus warned that the cares of life, if allowed place, would be like thorns growing, choking and destroying our spiritual life. If we find ourselves in these conditions, we have clearly lost sight of who we are meant to be, and what we are enlisted by God to do. Paul’s reminder is most appropriate. We are soldiers called by God to serve Him, to fight as part of His army, in valiant combat for the faith. We are God’s family whose primary task in life, is to please God who has called us and chosen us to be His ambassadors in this world. Our life’s commitment and goal is to do God’s will, and fulfil the purposes He has set for us, and never allow this to become secondary to any other interest or responsibility!

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