Devotionals

Psalm 49:10-12
“For man sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.”

“Now that’s a strange Scripture to use for a seed of the Kingdom!”, I can hear some of you saying. And I agree! But as I was reading through the Psalms in the new English Standard Version, I was struck by the acute simplicity of the message of these verses – it doesn’t matter who you are, rich or poor, wise or stupid, we are all no different from the beasts of the field, in that there is a limit on our physical life-span.

There is nothing more certain than the fact that a day will come when our earthly lives come to an end. You may even have something important named after you – many buildings, states, provinces and even countries have borne the name of famous individuals – but not even that can make anyone live a day longer than God intends – it does absolutely nothing for anyone’s longevity!

Our news headlines are often punctuated by the news that someone significant has died. I regularly read the obituaries in the Daily Telegraph – very occasionally it’s of someone I once met or knew. The news of someone passing away like this is an almost daily reminder of the truth of our Scripture. It doesn’t matter who you are – one day you will be a headline and then the rest of the world will move on without you. My brother described death as like waiting on the railway platform for your train to come down the line, then stop, pick you up and take you on to your next destination.

The wonder of the Gospel is that, even though physical death is a certainty, believers have nothing to fear. Those who are in Christ have already tasted eternal life and they know where their destination is going to be. They are already in Christ and with Christ and because, as Jesus said, He has gone before to prepare a place for us, we can face the reality of our verse for today without any fear or anxiety. We live in a world where wealth, reputation, and what men think of us has become the pre-occupation of prosperous humanity. We will all leave our earthly possessions behind, but the riches that are the possession of the believer are ours for time and eternity.

As we approach the Easter Season, let us give ourselves to making it a time of great thanksgiving that Jesus is alive for evermore and preparing a place for you and for me. (John 14:1-6).

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to live every day as if it was going to be my last, fulfilling all the purposes You have for me on earth and trusting You who are my security and my life. Thank you for the eternal riches you have prepared for all Your children. In the Name of our wonderful Saviour, Jesus. Amen.

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Luke 19:26, MKJV
“For I say to you that to everyone who has, more will be given. And from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him.”

Surely, the ‘Parable of the Talents’ is all about using our God-given talents and receiving a reward from our grateful King when we do so, isn’t it? But then there’s this sudden kick at the end. The grateful King unexpectedly seems hard and vindictive. Even His servants, who know Him well, are surprised. It’s not fair! What’s going on here?

The unfaithful servant was mainly condemned, not because he made no profit, but because he had a wrong understanding of the character of the King, and acted out of fear, not faith. So in verse 22 the King says ‘I will judge you by your own words’ (rather than judging him with grace and mercy). He quotes back to the servant the very words that he said. Then, the single coin is taken away and given to the most productive servant, which is just what a fearful servant might expect a hard and unjust king to do.

The parable is not so much about using our talents successfully as about recognising the character of the One who gives them. The first two servants were commended and rewarded, not for being clever or industrious, but for being faithful and trustworthy. They were willing to take a personal risk of failure, because they understood how loving and gracious their King was.

God wants us to take a similar risk with what He’s given to us, which will show how much we love, trust and obey Him. Are you willing to take that risk, even the risk of failure, or have you judged the King to be hard and demanding? Your decision could have eternal consequences!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the talents that You’ve given me. Help me to recognise them and use them for You, even though I’m not sure how it will turn out. I’d rather be found faithful than successful. Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” Revelation 1:7, NIVThe coming again of Jesus will be wonderful news for beli…

Revelation 1:7, NIV
“Look, he is coming with the clouds and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”

The coming again of Jesus will be wonderful news for believers – but there is no doubt from the many references in Scripture that the world will be going through tough times, immediately preceding the most momentous event of future history. When we see the extent of suffering, apostasy and spiritual rebellion on the Earth, it is easy to join the clamour of the saints down the ages who have echoed John’s words from the last chapter of revelation, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The world awaits His coming.

Wonderful though the second coming will be for believers, our Scripture for today tells us that all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him! Why should people be in mourning about the day we long to see? The answer is simple. For the moment it happens, everyone who has rejected Jesus and disbelieved His Word will suddenly realise just how wrong they were. Those who have denied that God was the Creator of the universe and everything in it, will suddenly be faced with the One through all things were made! (John 1:1-2). Those who have said there are many ways to God and Jesus is only one of many ways will be confronted with the One who is THE way!

Hardly a day passes without there being some article in the Newspapers about Christians being ridiculed or persecuted. Christian views are frequently rubbished as being irrelevant. What’s written in the Bible no longer has any respect in society at large. It’s ‘out of date’. It’s irrelevant to twenty first century people! But there will come a day when all those who have stood with the mockers – everyone from those who pierced Him to those today who oppose Him – will suddenly be in deep mourning for what they have done and what they have lost.

Yes, the day is coming – I urge you to be like the wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-13 – and be ready!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus , that You not only fulfilled prophecy when You came the first time, but the prophecies about your second coming are also going to be fulfilled when You come again. Help me, Lord, to always be ready to welcome that glorious day. I don’t want to be among the mourners when every eye will see You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing”Proverbs 13:17, NIVAn envoy carries messages from the one who sends him. He is trusted by his employer to be a faithful carrier of the message, taking it to the person for …

Proverbs 13:17, NIV
“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing”

An envoy carries messages from the one who sends him. He is trusted by his employer to be a faithful carrier of the message, taking it to the person for whom it was intended. An envoy who fails to deliver the message, or who distorts the message, so that it is no longer the truth, will soon be in trouble, will lose their job and, in older days, would probably have lost their life as well! An envoy was trusted to be faithful to the one who sent him.

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus commissioned all His disciples to be His personal envoys, and carry the message of the Gospel into all the world. Their role was not only to take the message, but to make more disciples, teaching all the new believers to do exactly the same things that He had taught those first disciples to do – which in Luke 9 verses 1 and 2 was clearly defined as to preach about the kingdom of God, heal the sick and set people free from the powers of darkness.

A trustworthy envoy will not fail to do what he has been asked to do and as the writer of this proverb makes so very clear, the message of a trustworthy envoy will bring healing. And that’s exactly what the Great Commission, which Jesus gave to the whole of the Church for the whole of time, does for those who receive the envoys’ message and apply it in their lives.

Salvation is healing – when we are saved, we are born again, which means we are raised from the dead (a very significant healing!) and as we apply the truths of salvation into our lives then God continues to bring His healing and wholeness into every area of our lives. God has entrusted His people to be His envoys – what a privilege to be sent by the living God, with the most incredible message that any envoy has ever been given – a message which has the capacity to transform the lives of those who receive and believe it. Are you willing to be a faithful envoy on behalf of the One who has sent you to be a messenger of His truth and His love to the people Jesus died to save?

>strong>Prayer: Help me, Lord, to be a faithful envoy and never to miss an opportunity to take the message of the Gospel to those who are in need of Your healing and Your salvation. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”Proverbs 25:11, NIVWe all like to hear words that we like! But how do we respond when someone speaks a word to us which conflicts with what I want to do – advice, perhaps, which cuts rig…

Proverbs 25:11, NIV
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”

We all like to hear words that we like! But how do we respond when someone speaks a word to us which conflicts with what I want to do – advice, perhaps, which cuts right across the plans you had laid down for yourself?

It takes quite a lot of courage to speak a word of correction to someone, especially when you know it won’t be very well received. But if you really know that God is encouraging you to help someone by speaking truth into their lives, even if it’s unwelcome truth, what should you do?

This has happened to me on a number of occasions. Usually the very last thing I would want to do is risk damaging a relationship, by speaking out of turn. But if God is wanting us to speak His word to someone, then we are being disobedient to God and actually betraying the person to whom God wants us to speak, if we choose not to do so. It’s important that, if and when you do feel God is putting you in that situation, you really spend time with the Lord, asking Him to confirm that this is what He wants you to do. And then when you pluck up the courage to bring your word, it is vital that it is delivered with love and compassion, so that it can be an apple of gold to the recipient and not a stab in the back!

And so back to our first question, how should you respond if someone brings you such a word? Be gracious and thank the person, however much you either agree or disagree with what they have said. Then lay it before the Lord in the privacy of your own place of prayer. And ask Him to confirm to your own heart whether or not what has been said is true. And if it is a true word, then thank the Lord for it and in humility also thank the person who had the courage to bring a word in season to help you along life’s journey. A friend who speaks truth in love is worth a thousand friends who flatter but fail to tell you what you need to hear!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for those who have the courage to speak into my life. Help me to receive such words with gracious love and thanks and then pray through what has been said. And if, Lord, you give me a word for someone else, help me never to use it as a weapon against them, but to always share it with love. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Click Here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”Matthew 26:41,NIVTemptation is a big issue! It’s the only practical issue as far as Satan is concerned – for it is his standard method of encouragin…

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Temptation is a big issue! It’s the only practical issue as far as Satan is concerned – for it is his standard method of encouraging mankind to disobey God and so worship him instead. And it’s the standard way through which mankind is deceived into feeding the desires of his carnal nature and then falling yet again into the “tiger trap” which Satan carefully digs beneath the pathways, along which we journey through life.

Long before the days of wild-life conservation, in the days when local people in Asia had to protect themselves and their families from the carnivorous intent of this most fearsome of creatures, a tiger trap was the traditional way in which such a predatory beast could be caught, without risking life and limb in a hunt which could prove fatal to the hunter. A huge hole would be dug in the ground beneath a jungle path along which the tiger would be likely to go. The hole would be so deep that not even a tiger would be able to jump out of it. The top of the hole would then be covered with lightweight branches and then grass to make it look as though it was part of the pathway.

The hope was that the tiger would walk along the pathway and when it put its giant paws on one of the thin branches that covered the hole, the covering would give way and the huge weight of the tiger would take it down to the bottom of the pit from which there was no escape! This is a very accurate picture of how Satan lures us into his temptations – he sets a life-trap which we are deceived into thinking is OK, but in reality Satan has dug a pit beneath it in which he wants us to be caught.

So why do so many Christians fall into one of Satan’s ‘tiger traps’. I believe it’s because they only battle with the temptation, instead of exercising their authority over the tempter. No-one would willingly join hands with Satan – but people do succumb to his temptation. As soon as we recognise that we are facing temptation we need to take our eyes off the temptation itself and deal with the tempter. As soon as you realise who’s behind the temptation and that there is a pit beneath the deceptive covering, it’s much easier to walk away from it.

Don’t engage with the temptation – recognise who’s behind the temptation and deal with him! This is the thinking behind the wise words of James: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7).

Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I have fallen into sin following temptation. Help me now, Lord, to recognise the traps of the enemy and who it is that lays them for me. Help me not to engage only with the struggle over the temptation, but to face directly the one who is the source of the temptation, deal with him and so walk away from the trap. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Click Here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog