devotions

The Importance of Foundations

Concrete Pour

If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”

Foundations are the most important part of any building. Everything else that is built is then built upon the foundations. If the foundations are firm, then the building will stand. But if the foundations are faulty, then there is a strong chance the building will need to be destroyed and rebuilt.

This is also true of Christ and our walk with Him. If the foundation upon which we build our lives is faulty, then our very lives are in jeopardy. If the foundation of our life is not Christ, then all that we have built and slaved over in our lives in susceptible to cracking, splitting, slipping and causing irreparable damage to what we’ve built.

The issue with a foundation is that it is the lowest part of the building. It is not readily fixed from above. There is few if any quick fixes or patches that will protect what has been built.

So too with our lives, apart from the foundation of Christ. When the day comes and that foundation cracks, slips or splits, the “righteous” are unable to help. “What can the righteous do?”

If the foundation of your life is not secure in Christ, go back, re-dig it, pull it apart. Make Jesus the foundation – firm and secure – and rebuilt your life upon Him. He will never let you down.

PRAYER: Father, I ask you to reveal any area of my life not firmly established upon the foundation of Jesus Christ your son. I submit all of my life to you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

A King Just Like Everyone Else (1 Samuel 8)

King

1 Samuel 8:7 says:

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

When Israel decided they wanted a king to be just like all the other nations they did so by rejecting the Lord as their king.

There is a saying that says “if you want to live like no one else, you’ve got to live like no one else”. In other words, there is a cost of discipline and choosing a different path of life to most people, if you want to truly succeed in a way that most others don’t.

The same is true of the life of the Christian. Wanting to live like everyone else AND live for Jesus is mutually exclusive.

You’ve got to pick one or the other.

The place the Lord must take in our lives is the place reserved for King. That is why He is titled the “King of kings”. If He is not King of our lives, someone or something else will be. And that means Jesus is not King of kings.

In out lives there will always be a king. Be it the one who is rightfully king or the one we choose in His place, just like all the “other nations”.

Who is the king of your life? The King of kings? Or something or someone just like all the other nations have?

PRAYER: Father, I want you to be my King. Lord rule and reign in my life as King of my heart, my mind, my future and my affections. I love you Lord, Amen.

Desiring Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12)

Gifted Hero

1 Corinthians 12 verse 29 – 31 says:

29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

The answer to the questions above is no. Not all of us have all of these ministry gifts.

BUT, the question is also answered in view of the fact we are then told to “earnestly desire” these gifts. God is saying “Oh, you don’t have that gift. Don’t stress, pursue them by seeking me!”

I’m sure there is more at play here than us having a want. But the inference is that by pursuing and desiring these greater gifts, God can gift them to you and I.

Why would God do that? When we demonstrate hunger for the things of God’s kingdom, we demonstrate a willingness and propensity to be used by Him to fulfil His plans! The gifts are the tools we need to do this.

PRAYER: Father, I desire these greater gifts. I seek you as the giver of them in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Abraham’s Testing (Genesis 22)

the testing of God

Genesis 22:1-2 (NIV) says:

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

When did God test Abraham? “Some time later”.

The testing of God never comes when you expect it to. But it does come.

After the highs of victory and the beauty of the journey through life, just when you don’t expect it, “some time later” the testing of the Lord will come.

“Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied

What does God first call? He calls Abraham by name.

The testing of God always begins with self. God wants your life FIRST and giving our life wholeheartedly to God is what is required to be a follower of Jesus. That is why Jesus says “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Before God tests any other part of your life, first He will test the core of your affections, desires and loyalty. Why? Because He knows, if He doesn’t have ALL of you, He really doesn’t have anything of you.

“Then God said”

Once God has established your obedience and willingness to wholeheartedly follow Him, you are ready for the next test. The challenge is one that never ends, your maturing.

Call it your education, your growth, your process of change – as a Christian disciple, you can expect it. This side of eternity God is never satisfied with you, nor is His love for you so shallow, as to not continually use situations, circumstance, problems and people to shape, mould and mature you more and more into the image of His son.

PRAYER: Lord, I give you my life. It’s yours Lord. I say ‘Here I am I’m yours’. Shape me, mould me, make me more and more like Jesus. I know your way is the best way for my life and I choose it Lord. I trust you and I love you, Amen.

5 Great Bible Reading Plans to Give Your Devotions a Lift

Five Great Bible Reading Plans

If you want to hear the voice of God the best place to start is the Word of God. And the best way to read the Word of God is on a consistent, daily basis. To do that, I would recommend using a Bible Reading Plan.

There are many possible ways to read the bible and there are many possible plans for doing this. You may already have a means of reading the bible that works well for you. But if you don’t, if your commitment has waned recently, I would suggest taking on one of the following reading plans to rebuild some day in and day out consistency in the Word.