[Monday's Devotional] - Left alone in Gethsemane

One of the most prolific writers of Devotionals and Christian books in the 19^th Century was Charles Spurgeon.  Born in 1834, long before the internet and mass communications, it is nevertheless estimated that he preached to 10 million people in his lifetime!  

The language of his writing sounds a little old-fashioned in the 21^st century, but the insights are still valid today.  So this week, I am paraphrasing some of his Devotionals in more contemporary English, hoping to make them more readable – with the assistance of the online resource at http://www.spurgeon.org/daily.htm  Here we go (Spurgeon’s paraphrased text in Italics):

"The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone …"  John 16:32a [RSV]

Few shared fellowship with Jesus during his time of sorrows in the garden of Gethsemane. Most of the disciples were not sufficiently matured in grace to witness the mysteries of "the agony" Christ suffered there.  Occupied with the Passover feast at their own houses, they represent the many that live according to the “letter” but are immature infants regarding the “spirit” of the gospel.

Only eleven (for Judas was elsewhere) of the disciples were given the privilege to enter Gethsemane and see "this great sight."  Out of the eleven, eight were left at a distance; they had fellowship, but not of that intimate sort to which those dearly-beloved are admitted. Only three highly-favoured ones could approach the veil of Christ’s mysterious sorrow: within that veil even these could not intrude; they were to remain a stone's-throw distance away.  He must tread the wine-press alone, without any of the people with Him.  Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), represent the few eminent, experienced saints, who may be written down as "Fathers;" these few having sailed on great seas, can in some degree appreciate the huge Atlantic waves of their Redeemer's passion.

To some selected spirits it is given, for the good of others, and to strengthen them for future, special, and tremendous conflict, to enter the inner circle and hear the pleadings of the suffering High Priest; they have fellowship with Him in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.  Yet even these cannot penetrate the secret places of the Saviour's woe. "Thine unknown sufferings" is the remarkable expression of the Greek liturgy: there was an inner chamber in our Lord's grief, shut out from human knowledge and fellowship. There Jesus is "left alone." Here Jesus was more than ever an "Unspeakable gift!" Isaac Watts puts it this way in his hymn, The Gospel Feast:

"It cost him death to save our lives,

To buy our souls it cost his own;

And all the unknown joys he gives,

Were bought with agonies unknown."
 

Charles Spurgeon, paraphrased by Dave MacLellan

[Friday's Devotional] - Fresh Air

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.  But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.  To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.  But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.  2 Corinthians 2:15-16 [NLT]

Have you ever opened a window in a stuffy room, and been shocked at just how good the fresh air smelt?  It is not just that it is cold and invigorating, but you can almost sense the extra oxygen content in your lungs.

In contrast, I expect you have seen pictures of the recent, choking smog in Chinese cities.  People go around with cloth masks on, or sometimes full blown gas masks.  It looks like a terrible grey cloud hanging over everything.  Some older church members may have experienced the misery of smog in the UK before the clean air act of 1956 prohibited the burning of anything but smokeless fuels in built up areas.

The analogy for the Christian life that Paul uses is of us being a fragrance.  I can’t say I find the word “fragrance” especially helpful as it conjures up a sense of overpowering perfume in an airport Duty Free shop, or a disgusting lavatory air freshener!  But rather, I like to imagine God’s presence as clean mountain air, or the life giving oxygenated air flooding into a room of stale odours.

People are funny about smells, as I have alluded to!  So whether you like to think of yourself as a “fragrance” or just a “breath of fresh air” amongst pollution, how can you be that amongst those you come into contact with today?

Jon Seaton

[Thursday's Devotional] - Bothered

In the film “Bean”, the bumbling Mr. Bean travels to America when he is given the responsibility of taking the highly valuable painting “Whistler’s Mother” to a Los Angeles museum.  He is mistakenly taken to be an art expert by his hosts in America, rather than the more hands-on, art gallery assistant that he is.  Mr Bean thinks this is a wheeze, and proceeds to unwittingly create mayhem and stress for his hosts, acting like a child and treating the trip as a holiday.  All this changes when told he must deliver a speech to accompany the unveiling of the painting, his hosts still assuming he is an eccentric world art expert.

Rather than admitting the truth, Bean attempts the speech.  He is unprepared and understandably rather nervous at the likelihood of his true identity being revealed.  Whistler’s Mother is a picture of the artist’s mother as an old lady in period dress.  It is rather plain.  Bean rambles on a bit, then suddenly hits on an amazing idea of why the painting may be significant: the fact that Whistler bothered to paint it at all showed his love for his mother.  This revelation brings the audience to their feet in rapturous applause.

I sometimes wonder why God bothered creating us.  Humans have obviously caused him great anguish and anger at times over the centuries, something he would have known in advance.  It is not as if God needs us: as God he is whole.

Maybe the fact that God was bothered to create us shows his love and reveals his character. 

As a (sometimes) lazy person, this challenges me.  Why should I bother….. ?(fill in the blank, washing-up for example).  I think that I should bother because I am made in the image of God, and God is love, and I know that partly because he bothered to create me.

Jon Seaton

[Wednesday's Devotional] - God Made Me

The monastic tradition of self-imposed solitary confinement seems extreme, but people do find God in that environment.  One of the more famous Christians to have chosen this lifestyle was Julian of Norwich, who has become known for writing down her visions and prophecies in the 14^th century from her prayer cell.

When meditating on a hazelnut, Julian’s thoughts were: God made it, God loves it and God sustains it.  At first this may not sound very profound, but in it are some important truths that, when we apply them to ourselves, show us where our significance and worth comes from.

A lot has been written in popular Psychology about self esteem, and having a sense of importance and self-worth.  "Because you're worth it" the Oil of Olay ad famously said.  There is some truth there, but it is dangerously warped to encourage an unholy pride in ourselves.  Who says you are worth it?  L’Oreal?  Yourself?  The important point is that our value comes from God.  He has made us, and says that what he has made is "good"(Genesis 1:31).  Just look at how complex your body is, with a brain more sophisticated than the most powerful computer, a body able to repair itself (something that no man-made mechanism can do).  You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and your creator is pleased with his work

Pray.  Thank you Lord for making me.  Help me to know I am valued and loved by you.  Thank you that I can know this in whatever circumstance I find myself in.  Help me to see your love in your marvellous creation around me.

Jon Seaton

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Patient endurance

This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. Romans 5:3-5, [J.B. Phillips NT].

My son, Matthew, is a competitive swimmer.  Many evenings of the week involve him ploughing up and down the pool refining his fitness and technique.  Swimming seems to be a sport that takes a huge amount of time to master, and mile after mile of blue pool tiles have to be endured to stand a chance of competing successfully at a gala.  It is maybe not surprising that many promising swimmers give up the sport in their early teens.

I was reading a swimming blog that likened swim training to putting jelly bean sweets in a jar.  Each sweet represented a training session and a full jar being ready for a big gala.  I must admit that I find this incremental approach quite frustrating, and wish that he could just fast forward a few years to see how far Matthew gets in the sport (and cut down my taxi-service to the pool).

Of course it is the same with most things.  We need patience and determination to learn a musical instrument, earn a degree or knit a jumper.  The main lessons, however are often what we learn along the way, and how that changes us.  Do we end up frustrated and disappointed or do we learn from our experiences and end up having something to offer others?

If we are able to share our experience with God through prayer, I am sure we are in a much better place to take these things “in the right spirit” and learn the lessons and develop the mature character that Paul talks about.  I hope Matthew (and I) can do that with swimming, with the success, failure and endurance tests he encounters along the way.

Jon Seaton

[Monday's Devotional] - Bored

This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. Romans 5:3-5, J.B. Phillips NT.

My father in law has a phrase he says to children sometimes,  “You’ve got to get used to being bored”.  Although a rather negative outlook, it does at first seem to relate to many people’s life experience.  Whether it is waiting in the checkout, caught in a traffic jam on the M6 or a tedious report to write at work, life at times is boring.

One of the ways we combat boredom is bombarding our senses with more and more amazing experiences in our free time.  For children, the TV games console is now such a visual, auditory and interactive experience that old family board games seem unappealing.  “What can I do now?” is a frequent question in our house once the allotted screen time has ended.  Ironically the Xbox just makes the boring times harder to cope with.

But can there be positive aspects to “boredom?”  The Bible has many stories of people in boring situations.  Moses had forty years in a foreign country, looking after sheep in the desert (Exodus chapters 2 and 3).  His must have seemed a futile existence, unable to integrate back into his own society for fear of a past murder catching up with him.  Yet in this seemingly pointless life, God speaks to Moses through a burning bush and gives him a new mission.  Maybe it took the boredom of the stripped bare, parched, desert landscape for God to get through to Moses.

I think the Biblical answer to boredom is not getting used to it, or masking it with ever better experiences, but growing in patience.  I think patience is totally different to accepting boredom, because it has Hope.  Hope listens for God’s voice, and even if a particular situation seems unresolved in this life we know that everything will be made well in the end.

Jon Seaton

[Friday's Devotional] - I know a man who can!

These devotionals are always written in advance and today it is the hottest Sunday of the year. I am sitting on my balcony amidst a display of spring bulbs which have burst forth into colour, a new season has begun.

I am pleased to testify that God has brought me to a place of breakthrough in my work-life and tomorrow, Monday morning, I will again be smiling as I begin my 3^rd week in my new job and I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT – thanks be to God!  I find testimonies as encouraging as scripture, the bible is full of them, so today I am sharing my gratitude.

Hope establishes the goal; faith is the bridge that gets you to it.  There’s no need to build a bridge if you’re not going anywhere.  But if you’re going after something you can’t reach on your own, you need the bridge of faith to get you there.

Incredibly I have a job that was not advertised and I did not even apply for, nor would I have done!  I took my CV to an agency in order to work until the ‘right’ job came along. They called me 2 days later to say a school had seen my CV and were really interested and wanted to chat with me.  On Monday 10^th February I went for an informal chat and came out with an awesome job, as it was term-time only I started with a week’s holiday! – the Lord sure has a sense of humour.

On starting work I had a week’s handover with my predecessor, we had so much in common and I have gained a new friend as well as a new job.  We both became Christians on Alpha, both had been to Africa and Romania on mission, both have a son named Daniel, both worked in the same manner and the list of God-incidences was astounding!  It was a seamless and enjoyable handover, after 16 happy years she was going to a full-time job at an independent school.

I had assumed the school approached the agency but I learnt they never use agency staff.  I discovered the agency had emailed my CV to several schools, as I have 15 years experience in education and previous secretarial experience, I was advertised as ‘Dawn – PA to Headteacher’.   I had never been a Headteacher’s PA nor would I have applied to be!  However, this email caught the attention of my predecessor who thought the agency must have known she was due to leave - they did not – but I know a man who did!  I cannot recount here all the other factors that have made this so remarkable, but all convince me that nothing can thwart God’s plan for our lives.

 

‘Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God”
1 John 5:4-5  [The Message]

Dawn Milward

[Thursday's Devotional] - A Place of Breakthrough

On Monday I shared a picture of spring bulbs breaking through from beneath the dark soil, beginning a new season with the scripture:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  Isaiah 43: 18-19 [NIV]

Some of you will know that after 3 years ‘waiting’ (as instructed by God) at my previous job, I stepped out in faith last September from that ‘desert place’ of my work life.  I pushed several doors of opportunity towards a new job, hoping for a breakthrough – yet one almost lead to a breakdown rather than a breakthrough!  But, remembering those spiritual markers of Gods faithfulness in the past I waited for his timing and his plan to unfold.

On 31^st January I attended an interview for Office Manager for a faith-based children’s charity which, with their puppet ministry, took assemblies into schools, it seemed wonderful.  That morning I read:

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-Perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-Perazim. (2 Samuel 5:17-21) ESV

Before the breakthrough, the scene in this scripture is called “Valley of Rephaim,” meaning, “House of the Giant.” After the breakthrough, it is called “Ba’al Perazim,” meaning, “Possessor of Breaches, Lord of the Breakthrough.”

I did not get that job, but I stood on that promised of breakthrough. As we ‘inquire of the Lord’ he rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  When we are active in prayer the ‘Lord of the Breakthrough’ will reward us with His strategy!

Dawn Milward

[Wednesday's Devotional] - A Grateful Eben-Ezer

In doing my best to practice gratitude, I have not found that the interruptions, disappointments and hurts have ceased—if anything, I am even more aware of them.

In my last set of devotionals I shared about spiritual markers and how important I feel they are in our lives to express gratitude. We discovered the Israelites crossing the river Jordan and saw how Joshua set twelve stones at Gilgal as a marker of remembrance of what the Lord had done. (Joshua 4)

Recently I came across another story that affirmed the importance of spiritual markers:

 ^“While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines came within range to fight Israel. Just then God thundered, a huge thunderclap exploding among the Philistines. They panicked—mass confusion!—and ran helter-skelter from Israel. Israel poured out of Mizpah and gave chase, killing Philistines right and left, to a point just beyond Beth Car. Samuel took a single stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Stone of Help), saying, “This marks the place where God helped us.”   1Samuel 7:10-12 [The Message]

How quickly we can forget the feelings of gratitude that most of us experience when God answers our prayers. Samuel, by example, urges us to pause and carefully consider thanking God for all he has done. We should count our blessings and use our memories of what God has done in the past to inspire us in our faith.

There is something quite pitiful about us when we take God for granted. I know I can often be guilty of this and my failure to sometimes appreciate God’s blessings reminds me of the old Monty Python sketch “what did the Romans ever do for us?”

Let us, like Samuel, be grateful for Jehovah Ezer – The Lord our Helper.

Dawn Milward

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Practice Gratitude

Yesterday I referred to our desert places and also to the promise of breakthrough following our season in the wilderness.  Often such places can be a time of preparation for the next thing the Lord wants to birth in our lives, and we need that time of preparation, painful though it may be.  If God chose to put his own son through a time of testing and preparation, why should it be any different for us?  We too are his children.

During this season of Lent I’m sure we all have our own 40 day Lenten practices and these may have changed over the years.  Today I will share my current one, it is not right or wrong (I’m a pilgrim not a preacher) but of course it begins with pancakes!

The Rev. Dick Hotchkin, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Port Huron, said:

 “Most Christians recognize Lent as a time of preparation “looking at one’s life and seeing how one might make improvements or changes.  I don’t think Jesus is as worried about giving up chocolates and things like that as he is about giving up things we harbour in the secret recesses of our hearts, giving up those things that make us small of soul are more important than giving up chocolates”.

This used to be my view of Lent—40 days of chocolate-less Facebook, however for the past few years I have been adopting a different attitude which started when a dear sister in Christ (now a super-Rev) shared her decision to give up ‘complaining’ rather than ‘chocolate’ and I loved this radical idea. I even thought it might be easier than giving up chocolate but was soon proven misguided in that assumption.

This Lent I chose to focus on (not give up) ‘gratitude’ - a gratitude for the gift of life in this world, troubled though it may be.  Each morning I look at two recent ‘order of service’ funeral sheets of loved ones who were both my age, I remind myself of the gift of each new day on this earth.

When we set out to practice gratitude we discover that grateful people are happier, healthier, live longer, and are just more enjoyable to be around. 

The calendar on my desk this week reads “Lent is not a deprivation, but rather a reminder of what you have been blessed with” and I must say, I am prone to agree.

Dawn Milward

[Monday's Devotional] - It's Springtime!

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’   —the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.”   Isaiah 43:18-21  [The Message]

I love Isaiah, for me it’s a book full of promises that I have hung on to over the last 16 years and, in due season, I have seen the fulfilment of many in my life….. for others, as I’m sure you will relate to, I still wait.

In my experience it can seem we spend more time waiting than we do receiving, but God knows when the time is right. Paul also assures us:

 “for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”
Galatians 6:9 [NIV]

A few weeks ago I was encouraged by a picture the Lord gave me of spring bulbs breaking through the cold, dark soil, having weathered the recent storms, now bursting into life  ….  a promise of new life and a fresh season of hope.

If right now you are feeling in a desert place, lost in the wilderness, badlands or wastelands, trust this prophetic promise:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
Isaiah 43: 18-19 [NIV]

Dawn Milward

[Friday's Devotional] - Inhuman death

We live in a period of growing life expectancy.  Advances in medical care and pharmaceuticals are making great inroads into conquering many of the killer diseases of the past.  Sometimes now the decision has to be made whether it is economically viable to prolong life, and doctors have to make the choice to stop treatment or to determine who will have access to the limited resources and to prioritise one patient over another.  On the other hand there are new threats to the current generation with obesity, substance abuse and other related causes of death are on the increase.

There is debate over the right to die – with cases of assisted death and euthanasia making the headlines as people travel abroad to avoid being prosecuted, and there appear to be frequent attempts to revive the discussion on legalising assisted suicide.

Perhaps we forget who the “author of life” is?  No life is created without the knowledge and influence of our creator God.  Life may be ended by choice (suicide, murder etc.) but it cannot be created by choice (in the laboratory) without the ingredients provided by our creator.

Perhaps also, we make the mistake of thinking of death as the final end – forgetting the reason Jesus came in human form:

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.  Romans 8: 10-13 [NIV]

Perhaps it is time to re-assess how we think about death?  Are we living according to the flesh or the Spirit?

Lord, help us to be truly alive in the Spirit today.  Give us knowledge and discernment when we consider death.  Comfort those who mourn, and help us to be sensitive towards them.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Thursday's Devotional] - Human pride

The death of Nelson Mandela last December was the trigger for a lot of comment on the humility and courage of this man who had a radically different approach to others in power today.  Oh that we could see more Mandelas and fewer Mugabes in our politicians today!

Many leaders, in politics, finance, business (and even in churches) fail to conquer the corruption of power which can turn good people into proud and arrogant leaders who have reached a position where they do things because they can – and they sometimes forget to practice humility in the way they deal with others.

CS Lewis summed up the essence of humility when he said:

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking about yourself less.”

The bible has a lot to say about pride and humility, and Jesus was especially critical of the powerful leaders of the day – seeking to model the servant leadership to his disciples:

Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’  Matthew 20: 25-28 [NIV]

Are you in a position of leadership or power?  Do you practice humility?  Can you resist the temptation to be corrupted by power and habitually proud?

Lord, keep us from pride and help us to practice humility.  Forgive us for the times we have failed to model the example of Jesus.  Amen

Dave MacLellan

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Objectification

Have you noticed how many images of women are used as the covers of magazines, the images in TV and film advertising, and the subjects of music videos?  Objectification is the reduction of human beings to the status of "objects" - denying them the human characteristics of character or personality - making them into objects to be used for the purpose of selling.  This objectification is largely confined to women although occasionally can include images of men.  It seems not to matter what is being sold - or who the target market is - an image of an attractive woman seems to be the answer.

Unfortunately, this habit has negative effects on women - there is, I am certain, a strong link between the graphically enhanced supermodel images we see portrayed, and the low self-image of women who are damaged by the pressure to look good or feel second-rate.  We hear about the rise of anorexia in schools, the growth in plastic surgery to enhance body shape, the increase in depression and self-harm associated with poor self-esteem in women (and sometimes in men).  This same objectification damages the expectations men have about women, and focusing on physical beauty leads to shallow relationships, with short shelf-life, and must surely fuel the breakdown in marriage and the lowering of respect. 

What does the bible say about this?

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 
1 Peter 3: 3-4 [NIV]

"…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7b [NIV]

Think about the images you see and the reactions you have to people you meet today.  Are you influenced by appearances?  Do you judge the book by the cover?  Try to look at the heart,  and resist the temptation to dehumanise the people you meet today.

Lord, help me to remember to treat people kindly - thank you that you made us all in your image.  Thank you for the diversity that exists and the beauty that can be found in the hearts of the people you created.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Inhuman warfare

The recent crisis in Syria, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the tension that exists in many other countries gives us an idea of the inhumanity of warfare today.  We hear talk of "collateral damage", a convenient euphemism for the damage to property or the deaths of non-combatants in a war zone - apparently a term that was first used in the Vietnam War.  

Looking at the data for those killed in Iraq over the last decade, it appears that around 4,800 military deaths have been recorded for the coalition forces (mostly USA service men and women - less than 200 from the UK).  This number is dwarfed by the estimates of more than 120,000 civilians killed in the same period in Iraq - a ratio of 25:1.  Every death is a terrible tragedy for the family who lose a loved one, and the nationality or background of the deceased makes no difference to the grief and loss experienced.

Modern warfare has become more and more depersonalised. We have snipers, unmanned drones, cruise missiles and laser guided bombs - all of which separate those who initiate them from the personal brutality of the result.  In addition, the rise of terrorism results in the innocent being killed and the real enemy can become a distant and abstract concept.

What does the bible say about the evils of warfare?

“You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don’t be alarmed. Those things must happen. But the end still isn’t here.  Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. People will go hungry. There will be earthquakes in many places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then people will hand you over to be treated badly and killed. All nations will hate you because of me.  At that time, many will turn away from their faith. They will hate each other. They will hand each other over to their enemies.  Many false prophets will appear. They will fool many people.  Because evil will grow, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  This good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world. It will be a witness to all nations. Then the end will come.  
Matthew 24: 6-14 [NIV]

In reality, we cannot expect that cruelty, anger and warfare will cease.  We can and should continue to pray for each and every situation where people are affected by war - we are commanded to keep the faith and to not allow our "love to grow cold"

Can you have the attitude of a peacemaker?  Will you let love conquer evil in your relationships?  Are you willing to preach the good news?

Lord, make me a channel of your peace.  Keep my love warm, and give me the words with which to preach the good news of Jesus today.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Monday's Devotional] - Inhuman economics

Recently I came across an interactive page where you can see a real-time global debt clock.  At the time I checked the total was $52,845,614,308,165 but it is rising all the time and I guess it will be more than that if you check it out now.  Over the past decade we have experienced a massive shift in the level of debt around the globe.  Where did all the money go?  Well - it seems that most governments have borrowed from their citizens to fund the shortfalls they have had and to prop up the banks who have contributed to the global financial meltdown we are still struggling to get to grips with.  Why does it matter?

I think that this issue is just one symptom of the inevitability of human greed.  Another is the fact that the distribution of wealth amongst the people of the world is terribly uneven - I recently shared a video about the distribution of wealth in the USA, here is one about the distribution of UK wealth which you might find more relevant.  The problem is that greed is a sin and one that is hard to resist.  We all think that other people are greedy and we all think that some people have too much money and many people too little - the problem is, are we willing to personally pay towards the imbalance?

What does the bible say about this? 

Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy:

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  
1 Timothy 6: 6-10 [NIV]

How do you respond to this today?  What part can you play in improving equality in our nation and world? 

Lord, help me to be generous with my time, my possessions, my words and my money.  Keep me strong to resist the temptation to be greedy.  Amen

Dave MacLellan

[Friday's Devotional] - Remaining in Jesus

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” John 15: 4 [NIV]

If you have time, read the full passage:  John 15. 1-8

However our week is going, this passage reminds us of the importance of remaining

in Jesus.  Jesus explains that the vine gives the branch energy and nourishment - everything it needs to grow and produce fruit.  Likewise, Jesus says, we are to remain in him and allow him to give us all we need to live for him.

It is when we stay close to Jesus, depending on him in a close relationship that our lives will be full of God’s goodness.  Our lives will produce good things for God’s kingdom as we remain in Jesus and we will grow to become more like him.  On the other hand, Jesus also tells us that if a branch is not attached to the vine it does not produce anything that is of any value to God and it dies.  Let’s ensure this week that we are not running on empty but remaining close to Jesus.  Let’s receive from Jesus all that we need to live for him, for without him, we can do nothing.

Reflection: Am I remaining in Jesus or am I running on empty?  Whose strength am I relying on this week?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I say yes to living life with you.  I come to you today and ask that you would give me all the resources, strength and energy I need to live for you so that my life might produce good things for your kingdom.  Amen.

Hannah Mears

[Thursday's Devotional] - Feeling small?

“It is I, do not be afraid.” John 6:20 [NIV]

If you have time, read the full passage: John 6:16-21

Right now there are many people in our country fearful about the damage caused by the recent storms and floods. Suddenly they have new challenges to face, life feels very testing and in the midst of uncertainty they feel vulnerable and small.  Whether we are affected by the wind and rain or the storms of life, all of us have moments of feeling small and anxious.

The disciples in our Bible passage probably felt small as they sat in that boat, and who can blame them?  It was dark and a strong wind was blowing so the waters became rough.  They rowed three or four miles so we can guess they were also feeling rather weary.  The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and were afraid.  But Jesus intervened and spoke into their panic: “It is I, do not be afraid.”  Can we hear these words of Jesus being spoken to us today? What are the situations where you need to remember that Jesus is near? What fears or burdens do you need to give him?

What interests me about this passage is that it is after hearing the words of Jesus, the disciples were willing to take him in their boat. They needed to know first that it was him they were seeing and on being assured of his presence they let him in.  When they were willing to take him in, Jesus could bring change to their situation and immediately they reached the shore.

Reflection: Can I catch myself today in moments when I feel small and vulnerable and remember the words of Jesus, ‘it is I, do not be afraid.’

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray today for those in our country who have been affected by the recent weather. We pray that they would know you intervention and peace. Please help me in moments when I feel small to know your presence and peace. Give me a heart that is willing to take you into the challenges I face as the disciples were willing to take you into their boat. Amen.

Hannah Mears

[Wednesday's Devotional] - A little offering

“Here is a boy with five small barely loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 [NIV]  

If you have time, read the full passage: John 6: 1-15

The crowd needed food, they were hungry.  Stood before Jesus was a boy with a little offering: 5 little barley loaves and 2 small fish!  The disciple Andrew said the obvious (v. 9) ‘but how far will they go among so many?’  The boy didn’t try to control what happened with his lunch; he simply offered it to Jesus.  This boy could not have imagined that his little offering could be used by Jesus to feed the hungry crowd. Jesus multiplied his offering so that there was even food left over.

I find this passage one of real encouragement because it reminds me that like the boy, we can come to Jesus as children who trust Him.  Do we know that whatever we are willing to offer to Jesus can be used by him, no matter how small we may consider our offering?  Jesus can transform what we give and multiply it, making it into something beautiful which blesses the lives of those around us.

We may feel inadequate at times, others may doubt our offering, but all it takes from us is a willing heart to offer what we can to Jesus: our time, resources, a listening ear, a helping hand, a particular talent, our compassion, a smile, a word of encouragement, so that Jesus can take and transform what we have to offer, beyond our imaginations.

Reflection: Are we ready to offer what we have to Jesus, to let go of control and trust him?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please show me what I have to offer you.  I yield control of that area to you. Use it as you will, that others may know your love.

Hannah Mears

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Disciple-making disciples!

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.”
John 1: 41-42 [NIV]

If you have time, read the full passage: John 1: 35-42

One thing I have learnt is that God uses us in the situations we find ourselves in.  We might be given opportunities to share our faith in the workplace, in the supermarket or at the school gate.  I know an elderly lady who gives space to listen to people and then point them to Jesus as she walks her dog.  She is often surprised by the opportunities God gives her as she walks across the park with her four-legged friend! What I love about this lady is that she is open to the opportunities God gives her and is willing to share the good news of Jesus.

In our Bible passage, we read that Andrew is definitely open to sharing the good news of Jesus!  I love the excitement he shows and the sense of urgency portrayed. Straight away Andrew finds his brother and shares the good news: ‘We have found Jesus!’  Just like Andrew we are called to point others to Jesus, sharing what we ourselves have found. It’s not just the work of a few that are called ‘evangelists’ – we all have a role to play.  Who are the people you already have a connection with?

Where are your God-given opportunities?

Reflection: Am I praying for opportunities to point to Jesus and share my faith?  Do I see this as important?  What proportion of my week is spent with people who do not already follow Jesus?

Prayer: Please give me opportunities today to point to Jesus, eyes to see them, courage to take them and the wisdom to know what to say.  Amen.

Hannah Mears

[Monday's Devotional] - Would the real evangelist please stand up?

“The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1: 14 [NIV]

If you have time take a look at the whole passage: John 1: 1-18

The prologue of John is a beautiful description of how God works in the world, drawing those he has created back to himself.   God desires that all might believe (v.7) and he longs to be known by his people (v. 18).  That is why God ‘became flesh’ – he became flesh, skin and bones through the person of Jesus and dwelt among his people (v. 14).  We didn’t come to him – he came to us.

So often in conversations I have with people about their journey to the Christian faith, I am amazed to see how God has been at work in their lives long before they put their trust in Jesus.  God is the real evangelist.  This is a great reminder that God is already at work in the world around us seeking to draw people back to him.  God is the real evangelist: we are simply called to join in with what he’s already doing.

Reflection: How was God at work in my life before I came to believe?  How might he be at work in those around me?

Prayer: Give thanks to God for his work in your own life.  Ask God to reveal himself afresh to you today.

Hannah Mears