Category Archives: Devotionals

Bitterness and Miss Havisham

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I have not read the book “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, but I watched the three part version that BBC1 showed over Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand a film version is to be released this year and Helena Bonham Carter will be playing the role of Miss Havisham.

Those familar with the story will know that Miss Havisham is a wealthy spinster who was left at the altar shortly before she was due to marry Compeyson. This rejection dominates her life and she is unable to let go of the bitterness she feels and move on. Miss Havisham then adopts a daughter named Estella and she sets about training her to breaks the hearts of men in revenge for the anguish she personally experienced.

Whilst this is of course only a novel I expect many of us, if we are being honest, have sometimes allowed bitterness to hold sway in our hearts. Perhaps someone at work got that promotion rather than you or a colleague has said hurtful thngs to you. If we are not careful and alert, bitterness can take over us and we become prisoner to it.

It is sad when you hear someone who has been hurt by an event that occurred many years ago still talking about it and letting that event define their life. I’m not saying that it is easy but we have to learn how to hand any bitterness we have over to God and put it at the foot of the cross – and then leave it there! If you have not made any New Years resolutions yet then perhaps avoiding holding onto bitterness could be one for you to consider?

Fear of Man

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This morning I went to Sainsbury as I wanted to get a copy of Christmas Carol on dvd and I heard that they were selling a version of the film for only £3. After buying the dvd I remembered that I still had not bought my dad his Christmas present yet and thought I might as well buy it today.

For the last few years I have been buying my dad a bottle of whiskey as a present. Yet for some reason whenever I buy the whiskey I start getting nervous and convince myself that people in the shop will think that I have a drink problem and that they all will be staring at me. I picked up the whiskey and headed quickly to the cashier who had the shortest queue and thankfully there was only one person in front of me. I was very relieved to pay for the whiskey put it in a bag and get out of the shop quickly.

Now I don’t know why I always experience this nervousness when buying the whiskey for my dad. Am I worried that someone from church will see me and they will think I have a secret drink problem? Do I think the cashier will be thinking the same thing too? I don’t know what it is but I generally am worried about what other people will think about me making this purchase.

As I think about this I’m reminded of Proverbs 29:25 which says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare.” I wonder how many people if they are being honest will know that to be true for themselves? Fear of man can stop us from obeying God and doing what we know is right. It can lead to a mediorce unfulfilled life because we are scared to make decisions or take risks due to fear of man. Let us pray that God will set us free from the fear of man and instead rightfully fear Him.

 

Escape to the Country – but not from yourself

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Escape to the Country is one of the property programmes that I often watch on TV especially if they are visiting an area that I like. For those not familar with the programme, it features a couple who are looking to move from the town in which they currently live to relocate to the country. The presenter of the programme finds them four houses to look at in their favoured location and we get to see what they think of these properties. The idea is that they are looking to start a new life, hence the name Escape to the Country.

If we are being honest I expect many of us given the resources would be interested in moving to a nice location and starting a new life, leaving our problems behind. However, there is one slight problem here because a change of location does not mean a nice rosey new life. Why? Well because the biggest cause of problems in my life is “Me” and the biggest cause in your life is “You”. Changing location does not actually really change anything.

If I have a problem with anger whilst living in Hampshire and then move to Cornwall, the anger will go with me because the problem is with me! I need to change. I need to deal with the anger. Movng location will not solve this. And the only way I know is to confess this sin to God and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing touch to heal me of this. So by all means enjoy watchng Escape to the Country but please remember that you cannot escape yourself!

Using Your Time Wisely

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Our vicar yesterday was preaching on the 5 wise virgins and the 5 foolish virgins from Matthew 25. During the course of his message he reminded us of how important it is that we use our time wisely.

I am always personally challenged by this as I know how easy I find it to waste time. It’s easy to fritter time away and not do anything productive with it. Before you know where you are another day has gone. Yes there is a time to rest, a time to play and a time to work and each of these are important. However if you are anything like me then you need God’s wisdom and help to get this right.

There is a very helpful verse in Psalm 90:12 that we can pray for ourselves: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

None of us know how long we will live on this earth. So it is important to use our time wisely.

It will be dark but the light is coming

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This weekend sees the end of British Summer Time for 2011 and from Monday I will be driving home from work in the dark for the next few months. In recent weeks I have grown used to coming home in the twilight but from next week it will be the real thing – darkness!

To be honest I don’t really like driving in the dark. It’s harder to see pedestrians who like me insist on wearing black coats and just wandering out into the road without thought of the traffic. Although I don’t need to wear glasses for driving yet, I do find it harder to judge the distances between cars when I pull out of a side road in the dark. And some motorists will insist on shining their bright lights into my eyes too!

It can be a bit depressing this period leading up to the shortest day, 22 December, as the days get ever shorter. However the thing that I tell myself is that as soon as we reach the shortest day then the nights start to slowly draw out again. Each day brings more daylight.

The darkness may be coming but I know that eventually the light will return. The light will overcome the darkness.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Complete and Effective Decision About Sin

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The following is taken from My Utmost For His Highest

Romans 6:6 our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin

Co-Crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin—that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you-not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified—just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to do in this passage.

Pull yourself up, take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.

This was not some divine future expectation on the part of Paul, but was a very radical and definite experience in his life. Are you prepared to let the Spirit of God search you until you know what the level and nature of sin is in your life— to see the very things that struggle against God’s Spirit in you? If so, will you then agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin— that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? You cannot “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” (Romans 6:11) unless you have radically dealt with the issue of your will before God.

Have you entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, until all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” (Galatians 2:20).

The Real Royal Wedding

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Last week there was the annoucement of the royal wedding on 29 April 2011 between Prince William and Kate Middleton. The media has been very excited about it and I expect that we will hear a lot more about it in the forthcoming days.

There is however also another wedding that is due to take place soon, but we do not yet know the date of it. This wedding will not just last one day though but for eternity. It is the real royal wedding between Christ and the Church at the end of time.

Revelation 19 v 9 speaks of this wedding and says “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” This will be the greatest wedding of all time.

Have you responded yet to your invitation to this wedding? If not then please as a matter of urgency respond now before it is too late. We do not know when this wedding will be so today is the day that we need to respond to Christ’s invitation to the real royal wedding! Tomorrow may be too late.

The Sound of Silence

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On Saturday at football we had one minute silence before the game started and on Sunday we had the traditional two minute silence during our church service at 11am. I must confess I do like these silences as it’s a time to escape from the constant noise all around us.

Most of us if we are being honest though probably find silence for any long period of time difficult. We seem to always like to have some noise around us. You have only got to look at all the people who have their ipod with them when they are out running to see this. Also if you travel on the train or just walk down the high street you will this see too.

I must admit when I get home from being out one of the first things I do is to switch on the TV. Why do I feel the need to do this? Am I scared of silence? In Psalm 46:10 we are told “Be still, and know that I am God.” I think that this is a habit that myself and many of us need to learn!

God’s Word Is More Precious Than Gold

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Last night in housegroups one of the passages that we looked at was Psalm 19:7-11 and we spent some time discussing verse 10.

David here describes the Law of the Lord as being “more precious than gold.” This is a challenging thought especially when you think that he did not have the whole bible like we do. In fact he may well have only had the first four books of the bible.

Some of these passages we find a bit dry and difficult yet to David they were precious and worth more than gold. I’m reminded of believers in countries where it is illegal to have a bible. I’ve read stories of these believers taking all sorts of risks just to acquire one. They risk imprisonment yet the bible is so precious to them that they are prepared to risk their all to obtain a portion of scripture.

Most of us no doubt have many different translations at home and if we visit Bible Gateway we have access to numerous versions.

I guess if we are being honest we would find it difficult to honestly say with David that God’s word is “more precious than gold.” We need to ask God to give us that hunger for His word so that it might become fresh and exciting to us too.

Enjoying Time In His Presence

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Last night whilst looking at some Christian websites I came across the lyrics to the classic hymn written in 1664 by Samuel Crossman called “My Friend Indeed.” The final two lines of this hymn are:

“This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend”

This got me thinking as recently I have struggled with my Bible reading and prayer times. It seems to be so much easier either to watch TV or go on Twitter or generally surf the net. Yet the writer of the hymn speaks of how he could gladly (note not reluctantly or because I ought to, but gladly) spend time with his Friend. Could I honestly say that? And if not why not?

Now I know that “the flesh is weak but the spirit is willing” and that we face spiritual battles when praying and reading Scripture. However I want to know the joy of this as opposed to it being stale and routine. Not the “I must read my Bible, I must pray” sort of thinking but the joy of being with Christ.

Interestingly I also then came across the following Spurgeon quote on GraceQuotes:

“I bear my testimony that there is no joy to be found in all this world like that of sweet communion with Christ. ~ C.H. Spurgeon”

The song “What a Wonderful Saviour” has been in mind today and my prayer is that I might know that wonder afresh and the joy of spending time in communion with Christ.