Week 48 Devotions

November 26 - - “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,” Jesus promised (John 16:33). Most of us would agree without any debate that Jesus was right on. Trials and sorrows come in all shapes and sizes, but they are an inevitable part of life. Why? Because God is trying to punish us? No, Paul tells us that all of creation was thrown into chaos following Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. “Against it’s will, everything on earth was subjected to God’s curse” (Romans 8:20). “All creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering” (vss.22&23). Christians have a promise from God to encourage, comfort, and strengthen us in the midst of our sufferings. “Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:35,38&39), and as a result, “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ” (8:37). God’s love for us is so wide, long, high, and deep (Ephesians 3:18) that He “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (8:28). God has predestined that everyone who believes in Him will “become like His Son” (8:29). We will someday possess the same character as our brother, Jesus. And in ways that only God knows, even the trials and the troubles of this life play a major role in shaping us and molding us into Christ’s character. We need to keep this truth in mind, “what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later” (8:18). “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever” (II Corinthians 4:16-18). Don’t forget this promise, “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9). When God says, “my gracious favor is all you need”, He assures us that “my power works best in your weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). And, “if God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31). This life is only the introduction to the real life which is beyond what we presently see with our human eyes and experience with our human senses. We simply need to trust God when He says that He has something far better planned for us after our present human existence is over (John 14:1-3). November 30 - - Giving to others does not come naturally. We are not born with a chromosome that results in some people being more generous than others. The nature we are born with is selfish (Ephesians 2:3). We often covet that which belongs to someone else, even though we know doing so is wrong (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21; 7:25; Romans 7:7; 13:9). When we want something we don’t have, we will even scheme and fight to get it (James 4:1-3). Selfishness is natural. Unselfishness is supernatural. As the embodiment of unselfishness, Jesus Christ is our physical example of what unselfish-ness looks like. “Though he was very rich (when he lived in heaven), yet for your sakes he became poor (coming to earth and living as a pauper among us), so that by his poverty he could make you rich (giving us the opportunity to some day live in heaven with him)” (II Corinthians 8:9). The human heart we are born with, “is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9). But, it is possible for goodness and even unselfishness to be displayed by people who aren’t Christians. When these traits are seen in non-Christians, it is usually a direct result of the influence of godly people. Christians living like Jesus most definitely have a significant influence and impact on the way non-Christians live. Even then, sometimes these traits are used for selfish reasons, to gain something in return. Totally unselfish people are those who have received a new heart from Jesus (II Cor.5:17). They are people who want to be like Jesus and look like Jesus. The Christians in Macedonia were commended by Paul for giving way beyond what they should have been able. And why were they able to do that? Because, their “first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord” (II Cor.8:1-5). Jesus willingly gave his life for us. No one forced him to do so (John 10:18; Matthew 26:53). Consequently, our Lord does not want us giving as a response to peer pressure or because we think we have to. When we give, Jesus wants us to do so willingly and “cheerfully” (II Cor.9:5-8). It is important as we teach Christian stewardship, not just of our finances but also of our time, talents, and opportunities that we don’t use worldly tactics in achieving our ends. For even though “we are human, we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ” (II Cor.10:3-5). Saturate yourself with the truth. The truth will set us free to live as Christ wants us to, which is the best way and the only way to live (John 10:10). So, how would others classify you? Selfish? Or, unselfish?