Devotions

COME LORD JESUS

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“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”        Luke 21:28 NIV

 

Just turn on your TV. What do you want to watch? Netflix? DSTV? Amazon? Or maybe the news? Any of them, all of them show a world of chaos. When looking around all that is seen is wars, violence, protests, genocide, starvation, injustice, natural disasters, and the list goes on. When considering the world, the chaos, the disorder that has reared its ugly head, it is easy to hear the words of Jesus being spoken in Luke 21, “On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” One thing that seems to be true, is the end is certainly coming soon. That Jesus is certainly coming back again. We just don’t know when, but the signs are there. This, is the Christian life, living with the sense of expectancy. Advent. The Christian life only makes sense when living as if Christ’s return is imminent. The Christian life is a Holy Spirit empowered life of looking for signs and watching for the Son of Man to return. So, this Advent season, some might find themselves lamenting all the bad in the world. Well, this is a reminder that Christians are Advent people. Watching and waiting in anticipation for the coming return of Christ. We find peace and excitement in that promise, that Christ is coming, and He is certainly coming soon.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

We pray, E’en so Lord Jesus, quickly come.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

So we pray, E’en so Lord Jesus, quickly come. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Jeremiah 23:3-8

 

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AWESOME THINGS

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“For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You.”             Isaiah 64:3 NIV

 

Isaiah tells us that God does awesome things that we did not look for. The awesome things that we did not expect when God ripped open the heavens and came down to us. This was not in a display of fire and power but entering our world as babe in a manger. Hidden underneath the cuteness of a newborn was the Creator of the world. Advent calls us to reflect on the awesome things that we did not look for when this babe grew up righteous and sinless, full of wisdom, grace, and favour. When the heavens were opened and a dove anointed Him as the one who works joyfully in righteousness, the Beloved Son of God. There, at His baptism He identified Himself with the people who had been in their sins a long time. He identified Himself as the one who would bear the sins of the world away. We reflect on the awesome things we did not look for hidden in life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Appearing to the disciples, giving them the command to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name, through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are called to reflect upon the awesome things that we did not look for in what He has done for us. Offering us new birth, becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. In this season of Advent, we are called to reflect upon the awesome things that we did not look for.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Awesome God, give us the eyes to see all You have accomplished for us.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Most Awesome God, give us the eyes to look at and gaze upon the wonders You have accomplished for us, so that we might even more fully understand Your love and compassion. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

John 10:1-10

 

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LOOKING AHEAD

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“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”        Luke 19:38 NIV

 

We find ourselves at the beginning of the Church year, in Advent. Yet today we find ourselves not looking to the baby that is to come in the manger, but the adult Jesus entering Jerusalem to be crowned king. Instead of the true beginning of the story we start at the beginning of the end. Like a child peeking at his presents before it is even Christmas, today, we look ahead at what is to come. Some say that peeking ruins the experience of the gift giving. How can we receive the baby Christ without looking ahead to what He will do and what He will become for us? Jesus first came to us humbly as a baby laid in a manger. He came without pomp or circumstance, and only angels worshiped the King of the universe. In our reading Jesus comes to Jerusalem humbly, riding on a donkey. His disciples praise him as a King because of His miracles, but they do not know what is to come. They are expecting a celebration of the Passover with the man they want to be their king. Little do they know that in just six days Jesus will become their Passover lamb. This Advent let the shadow of the Cross be just as visible to you as it was for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem for the last time. Wonder not only at the fact that God would become man, but that it would be His purpose to die for us. For this baby who came to us humbly in a manger humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross, and through His death was crowned king over all.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Father, let the shadow of the Cross cover this time of Advent.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, let the shadow of the cross cover this time of Advent, and the entirety of this new Church year, that we might always be guided by Your Son, our crucified, risen and ascended Lord, Jesus. In His name we pray. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Psalm 94:17-23

 

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FAITH SUSTAINED

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“May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.”         1 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV

 

You know how sometimes you come into a conversation at the wrong time? You hear the last thing someone says and it’s either surprisingly offensive or unexpectedly passionate? Right, so that’s sort of the case with the text for today’s devotion. We won’t really understand the weight, the gravity, of Paul’s words unless we start back at the beginning of his letter. So, go ahead and read that now…seriously…I’ll wait…Ok, now that you’ve read, starting from chapter one, you see that there is some intense stuff going on. The Thessalonian Christians are experiencing persecution at the same time Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy have been “torn away” from them. In response, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy are desperately trying to get back to them, but they’re repeatedly held back by Satan. Finally, they send Timothy on ahead and he gets some good news. Timothy is able to reach the Thessalonians and report back that, in the face of persecution, their “faith and love” has been sustained. Paul is rejoicing that these Christians have not fallen away, despite the hardships they’re facing. So often encouragement comes after failure, but here Paul is encouraging them amid great success. Today we don’t all face the kind of persecution Paul’s first hearers did, but there are all sorts of reasons to grow weak in “faith and love”. Let’s not wait until the weakness becomes despair or crippling doubt. Let’s rejoice for each other, with each other, in times of strong faith and selfless love.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Heavenly Father, help us to encourage each other till Christ returns.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help us to encourage each other and ask Your blessing upon one another with confidence in Your name, to sustain us till the end, till the day when Christ returns. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 9:2-5

 

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CLARITY

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“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”            Isaiah 2:4 NIV

 

Sometimes what we seek after is not always clear to us. We have expectations in our minds of how something is supposed to look, whether that is a test score, a doctor’s appointment. When we are given the results, or the news from the doctor, our expectations and dreams are suddenly pushed aside as reality takes over. Blinded by our own presuppositions and ideals, we realize how far from the truth we really were. This is how it must have been for those who first saw Jesus in His public ministry. They had no idea who this man was, or what He was up to. The miraculous things that He did, the healing of the blind, the cleansing of the lepers, the raising of the dead, were all events and activities that those who sought the Messiah had least expected. The visions of a dominant King who was to usher in the Kingdom of God came in a lowly carpenter from Nazareth who spent His time among the outcasts. He was born in a stable, died an innocent death on the cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Even His resurrection to new life caught His disciples by surprise. This Advent, how are we blinded by our own expectations? Are we distracted by the things of life that surround us? Are we enveloped by how we envision Jesus to be in our lives, or are we resting in the faith of what Christ came into the world to do for us at the Cross and the promise of His second coming?

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Holy Spirit, grant us the clarity to see Jesus as who He really is.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, grant us the clarity and vision to see Jesus as He really is, the Son of God who came into the world to die and rise again for us. In His name we pray. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

John 8:12-30

 

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HAVING EXPECTATIONS

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Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.”        Isaiah 2:3 NIV

 

We read in Matthew 11:2-9 that the disciples of John reported all these things to John the Baptist. John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” What are your expectations of Jesus this advent? John had to clarify His expectations of Jesus. Do we?

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Holy Spirit, in this advent season give me a clearer view of Jesus.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, as we journey through this advent season, remove any false expectations I have of Jesus. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Numbers 24:15-19

 

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WAITING

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“Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.”        Psalm 25:3 NKJV

 

Waiting is hard. Waiting for the results of an interview or biopsy. It’s difficult! The difficult reality is that waiting comes with following the Triune God. Even after God made His promise to Abraham, Abraham still had to wait for the birth of Isaac. Moses had to wait in the desert 40 years before he could finally glimpse the Promised Land. Israel waited for their promised Saviour to appear. From the beginning, God’s people were characterized by waiting. The good news is their waiting was not in vain. The long-awaited Messiah would arrive as God promised. Many years before this child arrived, King David knew patience in the Lord’s promise is always rewarded. Psalm 25:3 says, “None who wait for the Lord shall be put to shame…” Our Lord Jesus Christ has promised that all our tears will be wiped away and all answers will be given to us. In the meantime, we are invited to walk with our Lord, speak earnestly to Him of our needs and worries, and enable us to live in hope that one day we will not only believe, but see and experience how good our Lord is. As painful as it is to wait, we know waiting in God’s promises will one day reap an eternal glory beyond all measure. So, in this season of Advent, let us wait. Let us wait for our Saviour who loves us more than we know to come again. Let us wait, because our waiting will not be put to shame.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Heavenly Father, give us the strength to patiently wait.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give us the strength to patiently wait for the fulfilment of Your promises. As David reminds us, let us know our waiting will not be put to shame. Your Son came to us once, and He’s coming again. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

John 6:25-40

 

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OUR RIGHTEOUS SAVIOUR

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“In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.  This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.”       Jeremiah 33:16 NIV

 

Jesus is the King we need, not because His coming will change your current circumstances or make the Christmas lights shine a little brighter. He comes to do something even more amazing and necessary. He comes to change us. He comes to save us, to give us a new name and a place in God’s eternal kingdom. We need this King because we desperately need the gift only He can give – righteousness. This is good news that is better than any Christmas bonus or stocking stuffer. This good news is better than we could ever have any right to expect. It is not something we earn. Something He freely gives. That’s not what we expect when it comes to God and righteousness and salvation. It is not a gift based on whether we are naughty or nice. He earns it for us and makes us worthy. Jesus is the LORD Our Righteousness. Through faith, His righteousness is our righteousness. Expect Jesus to come to change you, making you into a new creation. You will not be disappointed this Christmas. Advent is the season of expectations. Advent is a season of watchful waiting. Once he came in a manger in Bethlehem and riding on a donkey into Jerusalem to win our righteousness. Now He comes to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Soon He will come in power and glory at the end of time. Expect Him. Place your hope in Him. He always exceeds expectations.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, thank You for the gift of righteousness this advent.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, thank You that You always exceed our expectations, by changing us into a new creation through Your gift of righteousness. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Genesis 49:10-12

 

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WHAT ARE WE HOPING FOR?

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“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land.”       Jeremiah 33:15 NIV

 

What are we hoping to receive from Him? Are we longing for the kind of king who is born in a barn, eats and drinks with prostitutes and criminals, washes His disciples’ feet, rides on a borrowed donkey, carries His own cross to a hill outside Jerusalem to bleed and die for us? Does He meet our expectations? Because this is not the kind of king the world expects and demands. Unfortunately, the world’s false expectations leak into our lives too. We often expect Jesus to fix our short-term problems. We expect Jesus to be a therapist who will heal the rifts in our families in time for Christmas. Mr Delivery, from the Online Story who brings us the material things we want when we want them. If that’s what we’re expecting, prepare to be disappointed this Christmas. In fact, we need to repent right now for having false expectations. That king isn’t coming because that isn’t the King God promised. On the other hand, if we expect to receive what God promised, a King from David’s line, who will do what is just and right, who will suffer God’s wrath in our place, who still brings amazing gifts to us in humble ways – through Word and water, bread and wine. Then we are prepared to receive more than we ever expected. Because a Saviour from sin is God’s Christmas gift to us. He is the King God sends us.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, thank You for the gift of saving us from our sin.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit help us to be prepared to receive more than we ever expected. Because a Saviour from sin is God’s Christmas gift to us. He is the King God sends us. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 9:6-7

 

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WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

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“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land.”      Jeremiah 33:15 NIV

 

Over the years various Messiah-like figures arose and attempted to bring liberation and restoration to Israel. But they all flamed out. A week before Passover, comes a most unexpected candidate: Jesus of Nazareth, with his band of rag-tag followers, riding on a borrowed donkey into Jerusalem. The crowds had seen what Jesus was capable of and hailed him as their King. They were right. Every prophecy He fulfilled and miracle He performed proved that this was the One, the righteous Branch from David’s line. What did those people expect of Jesus? What were they hoping for? What they had always hoped for: a holy war, the restoration of Israel’s political freedom, a descendant of David on the throne, and glory restored to the Temple. But Jesus came not in the way they expected. He came to do justice to their sin and ours, to be righteous in ways we have not and cannot. He came to carry out a great exchange: our sin for his righteousness. He came to be our substitute. He came to launch a holy war not against Rome, but against sin and death and the devil. The powers of hell that threatened to destroy us eternally. Jesus came to save, not by ruling on a throne but by dying on a cross. In Jesus, God kept his promise. Is that what you expect of Jesus, what you are hoping to receive from Him?

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, in this Advent open the eyes of our hearts to see You as the True Saviour.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, open the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus, the Saviour, as He really is. Remove all false expectations we have of Him. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

John 10:11-18

 

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