Walk With Me - Devotionals

Marriage As God Would Have It

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 19th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 2:24

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Sometimes you feel as if the order of things has been turned upside down. The way 'things used to be' has changed in so many ways. One of these ways is how people think about marriage and the family. The Bible treats marriage between a man and woman as of the utmost importance. Jesus said: "(The Scriptures) record that from the beginning God made them male and female." And he said, "This explains why a man will leave his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (Matthew 19:4-5, NLT) While in our increasingly secular and godless society people may reduce the value of marriage even as some were doing in the days Jesus lived on earth, Jesus himself and the rest of the New Testament show just what a strong and loving thing a good marriage is. The apostle Paul even used marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church — a relationship of love, purity, caring and faithfulness. That is what a good marriage should be like. After quoting the verse at the top of the page, Paul says in Ephesians 5:33 "So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Christian marriage is especially important today as it was in Paul's day, in order to show the non-Christian world the wonderful difference Jesus makes to a Christian home. The world needs to see that.

Dear Lord, we thank you for marriage and for Christian homes. Make them examples of godliness, love and purity. Amen.

This Is Why John Wrote His Gospel

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 18th November 2022

Passage: John 20:30-31

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The author of Ecclesiastes says: "Of making many books there is no end." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) Perhaps I feel the truth of that when looking along my bookshelves and see several biographies of the same person, several books on the same subject — and ask myself, "Are they all really necessary?" and then here I am writing another one!

The Apostle John had a very clear purpose in writing his book that we know as the Gospel of John. He had selected several particular signs (miracles) which showed clearly the purpose he had in writing the Gospel. He tells us he had many other signs he could have chosen to use, but these, he says, show just what he wanted them to show: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." That is the most important reason anyone could have for writing a book and, of course, John was helped in his writing by the Holy Spirit, so that all he has written is in very truth the word of God.

Now that raises the question "What do we do with this word that John tells us is so important?" We can't honestly just treat the Bible as a book of interesting stories or as good literature. That's not why John wrote. He wrote so that you and I might believe in Jesus the Son of God and have life in his name.

Gracious Lord, help me to believe in Jesus, the great giver of life. Amen.

A Life-Changing Question

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 17th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 24:58

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I am sure that one of the most important questions any man can ask is when he says to a woman "Will you marry me?" And he feels really relieved when she says "Yes. I will!"

The story we read in Genesis chapter 24 didn't quite follow that same practice. Abraham sent his servant to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. And when, in answer to his prayers, the servant found a suitable girl, her family gathered to discuss this proposal. No doubt the girl Rebekah was listening in. Eventually she herself was asked if she would go with Abraham's servant to become Isaac's wife — although she had never seen Isaac in her life. "Will you go?" she was asked. "Yes, I will go," she replied. When they met up, Isaac and Rebekah became happily married.

Just as Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, God sends out his servants into the world to find people to become followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to Peter and Andrew "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) And so God's servants go out and one of the great life-changing questions they ask is: "Are you willing to go with Christ?" For those who say, "Yes, I will go," life will never be the same again, because Jesus changes us from the inside out. A new life!

Dear Lord, help me to say, "Yes, I will go with Jesus." I know you are the only Saviour. Amen.

I Hope So!

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 15th November 2022

Passage: Romans 5:13

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I'm quite sure we have often said the words "I hope so" when speaking about something we would like to happen — good weather for a BBQ, a happy outcome for an operation and so on. It's easy to say "I hope so", even when we may doubt that the happy outcome will come to pass.

Hope is one of the great 'Christian words'. In the world of the New Testament, it was a very common Greek word, but in its Christian setting it has become one of the very key words in the vocabulary of those who follow Jesus Christ. The first thing to say then is that Christian hope is not wishful thinking. For the Christian hope is "a forward look at a distant goal" (N. Turner) and I will tell you why it is such a great Christian word.

Hope comes to us based on the Gospel — all that Jesus has done for us. It keeps our eyes on the eternal God and his eternal promises. Hope always has its feet planted in the grace, mercy and love of God so that, even in the difficulties of life, we have the assurance that God does not forsake us or leave us to flounder in our own efforts. God is the God of hope. All of this means, as Paul says, we can have joy and peace in believing and can abound in hope — it is God's gift to us, keeping us looking forward at the great goal ahead of us, the hope which is laid up for us in heaven (Colossians 1:5).

Dear Lord, please keep my eyes on you and the hope of eternal life with you. Amen

The Final Battle

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 14th November 2022

Passage: Revelation 19:11

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The final pages of the book of Revelation are as dramatic as they are solemn. We are given a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus coming from heaven like a mighty warrior. Jesus is described by words we come across in earlier chapters of the book — he is the only One who is rightly called King of Kings and Lord of Lords (v 16).

There were two great reasons for Jesus Christ coming as he is described here.

The first reason is to oversee the final defeat of Satan and all the evil host that followed him. Every form of sin and opposition to God will be overthrown judged and condemned to everlasting exclusion from the presence of God. Jesus will make no mistakes in his judgements - "If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of life he was thrown into the lake of fire." (i. e. Hell) (Revelation 20:15) That is Christ's final battle.

The second reason for Jesus coming as he is described here is to assure all those who love and follow him that no matter what they have to go through here on earth, they will never be forgotten or overlooked by God. Jesus is the Faithful and True Saviour; he knows each of his many followers and, as he promised he would, he will take every one of them home.

Dear Lord, help me to look forward to the glory that is waiting for all your people. Amen.

The Reluctant Refugee

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 13th November 2022

Passage: Luke 17:32

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We live in a time when there are, sadly, many thousands of refugees. People are having to flee for their lives, leaving all their possessions behind them. The world can be a desperately cruel place when wicked men are in control.

Yesterday we read about Abraham pleading with the Lord to save his nephew Lot and his family when the wicked city of Sodom was to be destroyed. In his mercy, the Lord agreed, and in Genesis 19 we read that the angels of God did save Lot, his wife and his daughters. The angels told them to flee for their lives to a place of safety before the terrible destruction of Sodom took place.

But Lot's wife's was obviously reluctant to leave her home and possessions. She still clung to the hope that she could go back or at least save something. She lingered behind the others and we read, "But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26) Years later, Jesus used this as an example of neglecting to be right with God before his judgement day which will come to all of us. Remember Lot's wife.

This should come as a wake-up call to any of us who may not yet be Christians, who have not yet given their hearts to Jesus and asked for his forgiveness and grace. It is Jesus who warns us: "Remember Lot's wife."

Dear Lord Jesus, help us to truly trust you for salvation. Amen

Unexpected Visitors

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 12th November 2022

Passage: Genesis 18:2

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Unexpected visitors can cause panic or joy according to who they are! Panic maybe because the catch you unprepared, joy when it is great friends whom you haven't see for ages.

Abraham may well have been having a rest in the shade of his tent when he became aware of three visitors, one of whom he immediately understood was none other than the Lord himself — one of those rare appearances of the Son of God, Jesus, in the Old Testament. Like the perfect host of those times Abraham saw that food was prepared for his visitors, and water to wash their feet.

This visit of the Lord and two angels had a very serious purpose. God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness of these cities. Abraham's nephew Lot lived in Sodom. The Lord told Abraham what was going to happen to Sodom and Abraham began to plead with the Lord to save the city, or at least to save Lot and his family and any other good people. The Lord agreed to Abraham's request — an amazing instance of the grace of God and of Abraham's boldness in praying — and the two angels rescued Lot and his family. There were no other people in the city who loved God.

Do you have friends and people you love who are not yet Christians? Pray to God for their conversion.

Dear Lord, I pray that you will save my unconverted friends. Please be merciful to them. Amen.

Going From Bad To Worse

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 11th November 2022

Passage: 1 Samuel 28:5-6

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There are many stories throughout history of great men who started off well but ended up in a mess. King Saul, who was Israel's first king, was one of those. For years he was a good leader, a religious man, and he led his nation in the ways of God. But then it all went pear-shaped; he refused to obey God and it all ended in his tragic death. The verses above tell of the last great battle that Saul was to face — a powerful Philistine army which scared the life out of Saul. It was a huge army and when he asked for God's advice and help God did not answer him. Why? Because Saul had become a godless, paranoid man, bent on destroying David who was to succeed him. His life was going from bad to worse.

God's prophet Samuel had died and Saul flailed around looking for someone to help him. In desperation he consulted a 'medium' a sort of witchdoctress who 'called up' Samuel from the dead. But Samuel only pronounced a message of doom for Saul. It was a terrible thing Saul had done. We don't know how these 'mediums' work, but they are of the devil and God has forbidden people to have anything to do with spiritism or 'mediums' - even today. Fortune tellers are much the same and it is better to have nothing to do with them. Saul's grim experience of them is a warning to us all.

Dear Lord, help me to walk humbly with you every day and ask your advice in all that I do. Amen

Another Like Jesus

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 10th November 2022

Passage: John 15:26

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You may remember (or not!) on the 29th of last month we thought briefly about the Trinity — the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today let's think specially about the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a real person, although we cannot see him with our eyes. He is equal in power and in glory with both God the Father and Jesus Christ who is God the Son. And the Holy Spirit has a very specific and a very vital work to do on behalf of the Lord Jesus. He is to be 'like Jesus' in the world now that Jesus is in heaven. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth because he is the One who tells us all that Jesus wants us to know. The Spirit opens our hearts to receive God's truth and he then helps us to trust in Jesus for salvation and to live in ways that bring honour to him.

The Holy Spirit came in power at Pentecost (as we can read in Acts chapter 2) and he has been actively building up the church of Jesus Christ ever since that time. He lives in the life of every true Christian — we are like 'temples' of the Holy Spirit — which means we ought to think seriously about how we live, think and speak. It is the Holy Spirit who gives gifts (abilities) to Christians to serve him in different ways. His work is to shape us carefully so that one day we too will be just like Jesus.

Dear Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit. I pray he may make me more and more like Jesus too. Amen.

Hard Questions

Reader: Jon Watson

Date: 9th November 2022

Passage: Psalm 44:23-24

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Hard questions! And the startling thing is that these questions are being directed at God. It seems God's people had suffered a big defeat in battle and they felt utterly let down by God. It wasn't as if they had denied God or worshipped idols, or done anything to make God ashamed of them. Yet they were defeated and their enemies not only laughed at them but laughed at God also. It was all too much to understand so the hard questions were directed to God. Why did you not help us?

I'm pretty sure we have all had experiences when questions arise in our minds but we might feel afraid ever to ask such hard questions of God even if, truth be told, we kind of felt like it! Does God really care for me? If he does, then why doesn't he help me now?

The true answer to the writer of the psalm, and to us as well as we ask these difficult questions, comes from one of the most bitter times experienced by God's people in Old Testament times. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22 - 23) No matter how puzzling the questions, God's love for his children never changes and he will never let us go. We are being "kept by the power of God unto salvation." (1 Peter 1:5)

Dear Lord, when there are times I cannot understand what is happening in my life, help me to remember your love for me never changes. Amen.