Walk With Me - Devotionals

Let Me Say This Again!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 12th March 2022

Passage: Leviticus 19:3-4

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How do you emphasise what you want somebody to hear or take careful notice of? You can raise your voice if you are speaking to someone or you could underline or print in large letter if you are writing? Preachers love to repeat things once or twice to get an important point across! The Book of Psalms has lots of examples of repeating a word to two so people will see how important their message is. For example, Psalm 84:8 says "Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob."

God also has his way of emphasising his teaching and we see lots of examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments. One great example of this is in the book of Leviticus. (God thought it especially important for his people at that time). Forty-nine times God repeated the words "I am the Lord" or "I am the Lord your God". In the New Testament Jesus often would say "Truly, truly I say to you". You have to sit up and take notice when you come upon emphases like that. In Leviticus God was emphasising that he is the only living and true God, that he has all authority and that he loved his people. The same message comes to us from the Lord Jesus. All authority belongs to him, salvation comes to us through him and it is in him that we find the great example of how we should live. God is saying "Let me say that again!". Listen to Him.

O Lord, help me to heed what you say to me in the Bible — even if you have to repeat it many times. Thank you.

Migratory Birds

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th March 2022

Passage: Hebrews 13:14

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In our country we have a lot of birds which only spend part of the year here before flying off, whether to northern countries or to Africa. They are not permanent British birds.

In a sense Christians are also migratory people. As our text at the top of the page says "Here we do not have an enduring city". Heaven has become our real home. Many centuries ago Christians were known as 'resident aliens' - they lived on earth but they were always on the move to their heavenly city where their Saviour waits to receive them.

Does that mean we, if we are Christians, have to ignore all who are not Christians and separate ourselves from them? Of course not. While we are here we have a job to do -to tell people about Jesus, to show people the love and compassion which we have received from Jesus Christ and to thank God for all the good and pleasant things which he has given to the world we live in . We mus try as best we can to bring peace and wholeness into our broken world. We should try with God's help, to leave the world a better place as we journey on to our heavenly city.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, as I am "marching onward to Zion, the beautiful city of God", help me to tell people about the wonderful Saviour whose home it is. Amen.

I Believe

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 10th March 2022

Passage: 2 Timothy 1:12

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We had a friend who died in hospital. Shortly before he died he sat up in his bed and, with a loud voice declared, "I believe!". It was a powerful testimony to his faith in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you are not very good at arguing with some friends who don't believe in Jesus, or who think the Bible is full of mistakes or that heaven and hell are not real... However, arguments and debates can only take you so far. But a personal testimony about what the Lord Jesus has done for you and means to you can be a really powerful way of showing what the Gospel is all about.

If you look up Galatians 2: 19-21 you find there Paul's great testimony about his faith in the Lord Jesus. In these verses Paul almost sings about what happened to him when he became a follower of Jesus — he saw that Jesus had died for him so that his sins would be forgiven. He saw that all that Jesus did for him, he did in love - "The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me." What could be greater proof than that of the reality of God's converting power?

"Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all".

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, may my life show clearly my love for you as a reflection of your great love for me. Amen.

The Great God Who Cares For Me

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 9th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 147:11

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I'm sure there have been times when you have wondered if God really does car for you. You are not the only one who has wondered that. Even the Bible itself is full of questions - "Why, Lord? or "How long, O Lord?".

But the Bible is also full of assurances that God does care for us — he holds each of his own people in the hollow of his hand and clasps them close to his heart. This is true even when life does seem to be getting hard, even a bit out of hand. Psalm 147:11 assures us that God's people always get God's attention — he, like a tender shepherd, cares for us.

The same verse also assures us that we do not need to try to do things in our own strength — we can depend upon God's strength to take us through life's hard experiences. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4). The strength of God we depend on is part of his steadfast love for all his people. Some elderly folk we know need carers to come in to help them each day. God is the greatest carer — we can always depend on him.

Dear Lord, please help me always to remember that you care for me, even when I cannot sense your presence. Amen.

Repentance (2)

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 8th March 2022

Passage: Colossians 3:3

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We tend to think that repentance is a one-off thing: we repented and believed the Gospel so we are safe in Christ Jesus. And that is gloriously true.

However, we very soon come to realise that we struggle and fail every day to live the life that our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to live. The Bible tells us that our 'old self is dead' but sadly we keep looking back at it and sometimes have a nostalgic longing for the things that find no place in a truly Christian life. So, as we Christians sin every day we also need to repent every day. "Repentance is the draining routine on the highway of holiness on which God calls us to travel. It is the way we get beyond what has proved to be dirt, rubbish and stagnant flood-water in our lives" (J. I. Packer).

A holy, humble, faithful life is what God want for us as Christians and he has given us the Bible and the help of the Holy Spirit to get rid of the 'dirt, rubbish and stagnant flood water' of un-Christian thoughts and actions. God will keep on cleansing and forgiving us.

It can be a struggle but our' real life' in Christ will become more and more apparent as we seek to walk with the Spirit on the' highway of God's holiness.'

Lord, please help me to really discard the 'old self' and to relish living in my 'new, real life' in Christ Jesus. Amen

Repentance (1)

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 7th March 2022

Passage: Acts 3:19

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Repentance is not a popular word and it is something we find hard to do . However, it is a very important subject in the Bible for several reasons.

Reason one is that we are all accountable to God for the lives we live. God is the Judge of all of us.(Hebrews 9:27).

Reason two is that God is a holy Judge who hates sin in all its forms — he has a holy anger against sin.

Reason three is that the Bible tells us plainly that we have all sinned against God and now fall under his holy judgement and his anger at our sin.

Reason four tells us that while this is true, God calls on us to repent of our sin and he will have mercy upon us. See the text at the top of this page.

So what does repentance involve?

First of all it means we have to be truly sorry for our sin against God (See Psalm 51:4).

Repentance also means a really deep change — change of mind about God and our relationship with him; change of attitude to our own behaviour — there needs to be a change in our thinking and our doing.

All of this can only come about with God's help — we have to trust the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that God's mercy and forgiveness are available for unworthy and undeserving sinners like us so that our sins may be blotted out.

Lord, grant me the spirit of true repentance and true trust in Jesus Christ for my salvation. Amen.

What A Great Way To End A Great Letter!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 6th March 2022

Passage: Romans 16:25-27

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Over all the centuries since Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome this letter has been one of the greatest life-changing pieces of writing the world has known. Paul closes his letter with this brilliant song of praise to' the only wise God'.

Paul praises God first of all, because God is able to make us strong, stable Christians through the Gospel and teaching of Jesus Christ. Secondly, God is praised for giving us the Scriptures and showing us how the Old Testament teaches us about Jesus just as the New Testament does. Thirdly, God is praised because he and he only is the one who has the authority to command us to believe on him and obey him. This sums up what Paul has been teaching throughout his letter to the Romans — the Gospel, the Bible and the obedience to God, all coming into our experience through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

To you oh God be the glory for ever. Amen.

The Courage Of The Christian

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 5th March 2022

Passage: Romans 1:16

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When the Apostle Paul wrote these words such a long time ago, he knew very well what a risk he was taking. People were being put to death for believing this Gospel so it took real courage to be a Christian. Why was Paul willing to put himself in such danger?

Well, first of all it was the Good News of God. We all like to get birthday cards; they tell us that somebody cares for us, remembers us. The Gospel is like God's card to us, a great reminder that he does care for us. The Gospel is what God promised in order to meet our need as lost sinners. It is good news that we have a living Saviour, Jesus Christ . And Paul wanted to tell people about this good news even if it were to cost him his life — which it did.

So here is a challenge for those of us who are Christians. Do we have the courage to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ and God's good news? It is surely a cowardly thing to back away from telling people about our Saviour when we have the opportunity to do this. The old hymn says "Courage, brother! Do not stumble.... Trust in God and do the right" (Norman Macleod). With that in mind let us not be ashamed of the Gospel.

Dear Lord Jesus, give me the courage to spread the Good News which has changed my life, because you were not ashamed of me. Amen.

What's For Tea?

Reader: Louise Macmillan

Date: 4th March 2022

Passage: Matthew 14:20

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I'm sure we have often heard that question asked "Mum, what's for tea?". Well, Mum usually knew quite well what she was planning to give her children for their meal.

The story we read in Matthew 14:13-21 tells us of a big problem; there were more than 5000 hungry people and only five little loaves and two small fish to feed them with. How could it be done?

Well, of course, it would have been absolutely impossible but for the fact that Jesus was there and he took command of the situation. He took the loaves and the fish and he looked up to heaven and said a blessing, and then broke and divided the loaves and gave them to his disciples who served the meal to the thousands of guests. And we read "They all ate and were satisfied" and there were "twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over".

This miraculous meal showed the real compassion Jesus had for all these people as well as his divine power to multiply the little amount of food so that such a crowd could be satisfied. This miracle, as well as all the others Jesus did, is told to us so that we 'may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.' (John 20:31)

Dear Lord Jesus, I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God. Help me to be fully satisfied with you and your great salvation. Amen

Jesus Is living In Me!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 3rd March 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:27

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What does it mean when we say 'Christ in you' or' Jesus is living in me'? When we are converted the Lord Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts by his Spirit. This is something we cannot see or maybe something we don't even feel but it will be something that we will come to see and feel through the changes that will take place in our lives.

One of the hymn writers described the difference that Jesus makes in our lives in this way : "Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green, Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen". In other words, our attitudes change to the things around us, to the people around us and most importantly to God himself. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation". The Christian is in Christ and Christ is in the Christian! As' new creations' we live a new life that now has new motives, new desires, a great new focus — to honour God and walk worthy of hi for all that he has don for us through Jesus Christ.

As I realise more and more of what it means that Christ lives in me, I become more and more aware of what Christ has done for me. I think more of the cross and how "Jesus loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

'Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all the Saviour's powers, come, pour into our hearts his love, and that shall kindle ours. (Isaac Watts) Amen.