June 23

“But they also have erred through wine…” Isaiah 28:7

Judah had fallen prey like Israel to the mind-robbing, sin-encouraging vice of drunkenness. Sadly the enslaving habit had found its mark even with the priests and the prophets who were intended to be beacons of God’s direction to the people. Their erring while in this intoxicated condition, included failing to discern the direction of God, and being unable to correctly judge matters. What an indictment against God’s people that Isaiah should be able to point at their lives being so devastated by sin, initiated and continued while under the influence and in the stupor of strong drink! Drunkenness is forbidden and deemed a sin in the bible, and for good reason! It robs reason from the mind and causes many to pursue and fulfil the sinful tendency of their flesh even more readily. It has always been at the centre of social deterioration in every culture and civilization of the past, and accompanied every degradation and moral failure that humans are capable of. In our present modern and so-called civilised western world, it is one of the main contributors to social problems. Alcoholism is associated with many serious and life threatening medical conditions; responsible for poor performance in the work place, and creating a host of complications and severe setbacks for people in various relationships. It is often at the centre of domestic violence, driving offences and many other crimes and socially abusive behaviours. It pollutes every area of organised, societal living, ruining and destroying the fabric of our cultures and undermining our ability to work and behave responsibly. Alcohol abuse affects the drinker’s life, his immediate environment, family and work, and the overall society the drinker is a part of. God visited stern judgement on His people for their abuse of strong drink and the resulting sinfulness. It is important as Christians, that we take note of the things which caused God’s hand to fall in punishment in the past, both in our lives and in the lives of others, learn from those mistakes and lessons, and determine to stand strong against anything that can be offensive to the Lord. As believers we have been given the Spirit of a sound mind - God’s Holy Spirit, which causes us to live holy and grants us a clear and sober mind as to moral and spiritual issues. Anything that can cloud, inebriate, intoxicate and distort our thinking and emotions is not holy, and cannot be tolerable before the Lord! We are to avoid such aberrations and keep to the trueness of love, faith and holiness God has prescribed for us. When we present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, holy and acceptable unto Him, we are acting in a manner pleasing unto the Lord and are doing what is our ‘reasonable service’ to God!

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

Mar 14

“And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line…” 2 Samuel 8:2

David had previously been friendly to the king of Moab, and had even entrusted his parents and siblings into his care. However the Moabites had determined to become David’s enemy, even when it was not necessary, and they appear to have killed his parents and brethren. Usually the way Israel treated enemies and prisoners, reflected the mercy of God, and not the harsh severity of the heathen nations around them. In this case severity was in order, and Moab’s wrong allegiance became their own judgment. Even so, we read mercy in the narrative, as we are told that a ‘full’ line was used to keep some alive.  The measurement of our mercy should always be greater than that of our punishment. Certainly we see a reflection of how God deals with us. He wants us to be on His side, the winning side and the blessed side. Too often we sell Him out, and form alliances with the enemy of God and of our own souls! In vain God deals with us, and patiently sends messages to warn us away from our choices. His longsuffering love, waits for a season, giving us space to recognise our dangerous situation. Finally when we have ignored Him, pressed Him and forced His hand, we find ourselves under the punishment and judgment, we so rightly deserve. It is wise for each of us to avoid being found in that position in the first place! The alternative is simple and effective – yield to God, do His will and serve Him sincerely. Never turn back on God or allow any association with sin and the ways of the world. Stay close to God in prayer and love His precepts, living them every day. Finally for all the imperfections and flaws through which, in spite of our best efforts we are still likely to fail Him, let us daily fall in repentance upon His great mercy and amazing grace!

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

Jan 26

 “And delivered just Lot…” 2 Peter 2:7

Though many have done injury to the character of Lot and accused him of all sorts of wrong doings from the moment he parted ways with Abraham, God in His Word, distinguishes him as a righteous man. It should be enough for any of us that God is willing to give us a good character reference, even if some, who think they know us, would vilify and defame us. Paul stated in his epistles that we will all stand in judgement, and clearly it is God who will judge, not fallible man. It becomes our task then to be pleasing to God first and foremost in all our doing and obedience, and not to be too much concerned with being man-pleasers. The records God keeps are the correct and just evaluation of our character and life. They cannot be falsified by the tampering or doctoring of man’s perceptions, preferences or even by our own meddling. What is so reassuring in our text is that God knows godliness when He sees it, and that He will deliver the righteous! In the midst of the most severe and comprehensive punishment or tribulation, God is able to keep and protect those who fulfil His righteousness. We serve a just and loving God who is not limited. We can rely on Jesus to defend and guard our heart, mind, body and soul, when we commit all of ourselves to Him.

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