Posted on Oct 15, 2018 in Devotions |
“Help, I’m sinking!” Have you ever felt like that? Peter did. He is with his friends in their fishing boat when a storm blows across the lake. They see someone coming towards them in the darkness and think it is a ghost.
As soon as Peter realizes who it is, he calls out. “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” At that moment Peter isn’t being logical. He is led by his heart. Why didn’t Jesus say, “Just wait, I’m coming to you?” I believe Jesus is delighted when we want to come to him.
There is a valuable lesson we can learn about faith here. Faith may seem foolish and irrational, but true faith is based on a word from Jesus. Peter says, “if you tell me.” Jesus replies, “Come.”
Posted on Oct 9, 2018 in Devotions |
Sometimes we don’t recognize Jesus when he comes! Perhaps you have been in a difficult situation and cried out for help, but the way God answers is not what you expected.
That is what happened to the disciples in Matthew 14. They are rowing across the lake after a marvelous time with Jesus on the mountain. In fact Jesus had told them to go! Now though, it is dark, a strong wind is blowing and they are battling the waves.
Suddenly they see someone, something, moving across the water. They are terrified. Was it a ghost? They didn’t realize it was Jesus. Instead fear filled their hearts. Fear blocks us from seeing clearly. It paralyzes us. And it cancels out faith.
Posted on Sep 30, 2018 in Devotions |
Have you ever hiked in the mountains? It’s not just mountains, but valleys too! Life is like that. Often in the valleys though, we wonder where God is.
Jesus and his disciples are on the mountainside. Wonderful miracles are taking place. More than five thousand people are fed and many healed. However, Jesus now tells his disciples to get into their boat, and cross the lake. The word used in the original language of the Bible is strong. It says, Jesus compelled them to leave!
So the disciples are doing exactly what Jesus tells them, but as they row across the sea, the wind suddenly picks up. Waves batter the boat. Hour after hour they struggle.
Posted on Sep 24, 2018 in Devotions |
This week the Feast of Tabernacles is being celebrated. Just as they did in the days of Moses, the Jewish people build shelters from palm leaves and branches, decorating them with fruit.
Why are they to do this? It is a time to remember how they lived in tents when God brought them out of Egypt. In some ways it is like a visual aid, so they would never forget that God dwelt among them in the wilderness, overshadowing the tabernacle and their campsite with his glory. Yet it is more than that! It points towards the coming of Jesus.
When Jesus came he was described as ‘The Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us’. The glory of God was revealed as a man.
Posted on Jul 4, 2017 in Devotions |
Have you ever had your hopes raised, only to find them broken to pieces? We have been following the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. Elisha had said she would have a son, but now her son was dead.
She had journeyed to Mount Carmel by donkey. On seeing Elisha she fell at his feet and cried out, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I tell you don’t raise my hopes?” Those hopes now lay in ruins. Yet she held on in faith.
Elisha sent his servant Gehazi to lay his staff on the boy. When he did nothing happened! Why not?
Posted on Jun 20, 2017 in Devotions |
Does it seem as if the promises God has given you have died? The woman, whose story we have been following in 2 Kings 4, must have felt like that. God had promised her a son, and now that son lay lifeless in the room she had built for the prophet Elisha. She told no-one, not even her husband, as she rode from the village of Shunem to Mount Carmel on her donkey.
Elisha saw her coming and sent his servant to meet her. “Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right?” The woman simply replied, “Everything is all right.” Incredible! It wasn’t!
Posted on Jun 8, 2017 in Devotions |
At times it seems as if God works in our lives without us having to do anything! He takes pleasure in granting us the desires of our heart. That is what happened to the Shunammite woman. Elisha had said she would have a child, and just as was promised she gave birth to a son.
However there are times when our faith is stretched, when we need to hold on to those promises. The woman’s son was now a young boy and had gone to the fields with his father. Suddenly he cried out, “My head! My head!” Within hours he lay lifeless in his mother’s arms.
Posted on May 22, 2017 in Devotions |
At times we may feel insignificant! Unknown! In our last devotion we looked at a woman known only as ‘the Shunammite’, yet her story of faith recorded in 2 Kings 4, is remarkable.
This woman had welcomed the prophet Elisha into her home, and by doing so she had welcomed the Lord. One day Elisha asked her, “What can be done for you? You have done all this for us.”
Some would see this as an opportunity to ask for favour, however the woman’s reply revealed her heart.
Posted on May 17, 2017 in Devotions |
Some of the greatest stories of faith are those of people whose names are not known. One of these is a woman who is called ‘the Shunammite’. This is not her name, it simply identifies her as a woman from Shunem. Yet her story, found in 2 Kings 4, is truly amazing.
Posted on May 1, 2017 in Devotions |
Is it really worthwhile serving God? This question, asked by God’s people in the time of Malachi, is still asked today. The prophet urges us not to only look at our present situation, but to see the future. God is in control and He has planned good things for His children, but we need to trust Him, even when trials come.
