Walk With Me - Devotionals

Here's Your Proof...

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 11th January 2022

Passage: John 20:28

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If there were such a thing as a patron saint, then Thomas would be the patron saint of doubters! He just could not believe it when his fellow disciples said, "we have seen the Lord". Thomas was absent when the risen Christ visited the house where the disciples were gathered. Thomas just would not be convinced — he needed proof before he would believe it. And then the proof arrived! Jesus visited them again and Thomas was there. Jesus showed them his hands and feet, and encouraged Thomas to feel where the nails had been and where the spear had pierced him as if to say, 'here's the proof!' Thomas believed and he has given us one of the finest testimonies that anyone could give. He just said to Jesus, 'my Lord and my God'. No more doubts, no more fears; if the many legends about him can be believed, Thomas became one of the furthest travelled of all the apostles — even to India. That is the testimony we too must have if we are to grasp what it is to be a Christian — an obedient and worshipping follower of Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, help me to be like Thomas and bow before you in obedience, service and worship. Amen

The Story Of Ruth — A Love Story

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 10th January 2022

Passage: Ruth 3:13

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Everyone likes a good story with a happy ending, especially a love story. The little book of Ruth is a love story, and it points us to an even greater love story — the story of what Jesus Christ has done for his people, and all because he loves them.

Ruth herself was a foreigner in the land of Israel who had come to faith in the Lord, the God of Israel "under whose wings she had come to take refuge" (Ruth 2:12). The leading man in the story is called Boaz, a relative of Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi. As the story unfolds, Boaz promised to act as the nearest of kin to Naomi and Ruth and that is why he said to Ruth "I will redeem you", meaning he would claim back the lands which had belonged to Ruth's late father-in-law and her deceased husband.

This happily also meant he could marry Ruth. In due time they married and had a child called Obed. Many generations later the great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus was born into that family line. Now Jesus says to us "I will redeem you". Through his death and resurrection he secured our redemption, freeing us from the consequences of our sin and making us friends with God. He did this for us, not because we deserved it, but because he loved us — the greatest love story ever told. It is what we call the Gospel.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help me to come under the 'wings' of your redeeming grace as I confess to you my sin. I thank you for your redemption. Amen

Amazing Sorrow ... Amazing Grace

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th January 2022

Passage: Job 1:2

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We cannot go through life without at some point meeting problems, heartaches, sorrows, perhaps even tragedies. When such times come we may be tempted to question what God is doing to us — asking the question 'why me?' Job teaches us how to cope with our sad experiences and come through them with our faith in God strengthened.

The main thing we should grasp is knowing the character of God. Job, even in the very depths of his sorrow, pain and even questioning, always refers to God as the LORD. It is the name by which God made himself known to his people and it tells us that he can be trusted, he is good; there is nothing unreliable in God.

Job learned also that all things are ultimately in the hands of God — the good times and the suffering. 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away'. Of course we don't always understand — we can't. But God gives grace and faith to us, to trust him, knowing that he will work all things for our good when we are his children (Romans 8:28).

Dear Lord, my times are in your hand. May your amazing grace always be sufficient for me, even when I am passing through hard experiences. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

What Makes A Christian 'Fit For Purpose'?

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 8th January 2022

Passage: John 21:15-19

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Four lessons in this little passage of John's Gospel answer that question at the top of this page. They could be used as a check on our own lives as followers of Jesus in today's world

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be a 'fit for purpose Christian' to bring honour to your name. Amen

God — And Ourselves

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 7th January 2022

Passage: Psalm 90:2

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(If you have time, read the whole psalm)

Moses, who wrote this Psalm, was born in Egypt about three and a half thousand years ago. Before the time of his birth there had already been 18 dynasties of rulers in that country. Moses would have heard about some of them. Later in his life God made known to Moses what we now read in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 about the creation of the world. No wonder then that Moses could exclaim "from everlasting to everlasting you are God"! Time makes no difference to God — He is changeless. In contrast to God we do change and the years take their toll. No matter how long we may live our lives will come to an end. Moses prays, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (v. 12). This is very important because when our lives on earth end, we will go to meet God face to face.

A heart of wisdom will teach us to obey God — he has authority over every aspect of our lives. A heart of wisdom will teach us to trust God and his Son from heaven — the Lord Jesus Christ. A heart of wisdom will teach us "to fall out with sin and fall in with God (Thomas Brooks) because God hates sin. A heart of wisdom will be filled with a love for God so that we stay close to him always.

Dear Lord, it is our prayer that you will teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Amen

What’s So Special About Being A Christian?

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 6th January 2022

Passage: Malachi 3:16-17

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Think of the question at the top of the page. I can give you several reasons which answer the question!

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for making me a Christian. Help me to make you as special in my life as your word tells me I am special to you. Amen.

Keeping In Step With The Spirit

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 5th January 2022

Passage: Galatians 5:25

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Everyone who has had a taste of military life knows the way the drill sergeants shout and bully until they get their charges marching in good order and keeping in step the way they should. So Paul often spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit is absolutely central to every aspect of our lives as Christian people. He tells us that it is through the Spirit that we are 'born again' into the Christian life (Galatians 3:2 and John 3:5-8). Through the Spirit we are brought into a wonderful new relationship with God and we become his children (Galatians 4:4-7 and 28-31).

Now, as God's children we come under the regime of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, maybe gradually, trains us to march to a different beat from the world, to become increasingly like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This can be quite hard for us because we tend to like worldly things, even things that may be quite harmless in themselves but they can tend to lead us away from the best things which God wants us to concentrate on — the things that build up our faith in Jesus. That is why we are urged to keep in step with the Spirit and bear fruit in our lives.

Lord, in your mercy, help me to keep in step with the Spirit all my days.

An Immense Crowd

Reader: Billy Graham

Date: 4th January 2022

Passage: Revelation 7:13-14

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Every picture tells a story! When the apostle John saw this vision of such an immense multinational crowd he asked, "Who are these... and where do they come from?" They were all dressed in the same way — in white robes, freshly washed - no sign of stains or dirt — they were perfectly clean. These people are Christians from all ages and from all over the world. Some have indeed come through fiery trials for their faith, some have even died for their faith, and some have had to live out their faith in affluent circumstances but in a world that does not know God.

The Church of Christ in every age is going through the 'great tribulation'. The world hates it, especially when it is evangelising and seeking people to come to Christ. So we should not be surprised if we will encounter opposition as we live out our Christian faith day by day But don't be discouraged. God will keep and watch over you. Your witness for him is not in vain and he will make sure you end up in that great crowd around the throne in glory.

Almighty God, I live in a dirty, unbelieving world. Help me to live each day as a faithful witness for you and give me a healthy longing for the clean, pure atmosphere of heaven. Amen.

Why I Am A Christian

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 3rd January 2022

Passage: Acts 26:19

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Three times in the book of Acts Paul the apostle tells how he became a Christian. In Acts 26:1-32 Paul's testimony comes in four steps that are very helpful for us, if we are Christians and want to tell others why we are believers in Jesus.

Step 1. What we were.

Step 2. What we needed.

Step 3. What happened.

Step 4. The new life in Christ.

Dear Lord, help me to follow you day by day, and be obedient to your vision for my life. Amen

The Good Shepherd

Reader: Mairi MacPherson

Date: 2nd January 2022

Passage: John 10:11

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In all parts of the Old Testament there are many references to sheep and to shepherds. God is said to be like a shepherd in Psalm 23 and in Isaiah 40:11. Many religious leaders in Israel were called shepherds over their people and this was so in the time of Jesus as well. But so often in the Old Testament, as in the time of Jesus, these leaders turned out to be false shepherds — no better than thieves and robbers. In contrast to these, Jesus declares himself to be the 'good Shepherd' and so he proved to be. For the word 'good' you could say flawless, genuine — it means this and more. Jesus is without peer and he came to 'lay down his life for his sheep'.

In laying down his life on the cross, he gave to all who trust and follow him a saved life (John 10:9), an abundant life (verse 10), and an eternally secure life. As the 'good shepherd' Jesus said he had other sheep 'that he must bring also'. To be a follower of the good shepherd we too must go after those 'other sheep' and seek, in Jesus name, to bring them in to share in his abundant life.

Dear Lord, I am so prone to wander. Please help me always to listen to your voice and to follow you knowing that you are the good shepherd who gives me an abundant life.