A Whole new purpose
Hope FM Activate Devotion
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything… Acts 9:1-9
Can anything that is all old, worn out and written of be of any use again? Well, I once read in a magazine that a 60-year-old hotel in Kansas was being renovated into apartments. A rusty ship that was docked in Philadelphia for almost two years was being restored and may become a hotel or a museum. Hangar 61, an admired piece of architecture at the old Stapleton Airport in Colorado, was being transformed into a church. Each structure had a specific use that is no longer viable; yet someone was able to see promise and a new purpose in each one.
If structures can find new life and purpose, why not people? Think about these men in the Bible whose lives took an unexpected direction. There was Jacob, a surplunter who wrestled with the angel of the Lord and his name changed (Gen. 32) and he became the father of the nation of Israel; Moses, the murderer, who talked to a burning bush (Ex. 3) and God used him to deliver the children of Israel; Paul, the tormentor of Christians who met with God and was temporarily blinded (Acts 9)and he became one of the greatest apostles and writer and many others. Their stories were different, but all had a change of purpose when their encounter with God sent them down a new path.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
We too may experience circumstances that change the course of our lives. But God reminds us of this: I loved you before you loved Me. I want to give you hope and a future. Give all your worries to Me because I care about you.
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7;
We love Him, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19);
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10).
Our practical application: As you cling to God’s promises, ask Him to reveal new direction and purpose for your life. God has a purpose for your life, So what you have to do Is follow Him, believing that He’ll keep directing you. Keep your eyes on the Lord and you won’t lose sight of life’s purpose.
Sunday, 30th October 2011
Too Busy To Know God?
Hope Fm Activate Devotion:
One day when I was waiting to board a plane, a stranger who had overheard me mention that I was a minister began to describe to me his life before he met Christ. He said it was marked by “sin and self-absorption. Then I met Jesus.” I listened with interest to a list of changes he had made to his life and good deeds he had done. But because everything he told me was about his busyness for God and not his fellowship with God, I wasn’t surprised when he added, “Frankly, pastor, I thought I’d feel better about myself by now; but I am not.”
I think the New Testament character Martha would have understood that stranger’s observation. Having invited Jesus to be a guest at her home, she set about doing what she thought were the important things. But this meant she couldn’t focus on Jesus. Because Mary wasn’t helping, Martha felt justified asking Jesus to chide her. It’s a mistake many of us make: We’re so busy doing good that we don’t spend time getting to know God better.
The bible says in Luke 10:39-40 “She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving;”
Many times we are engulfed in and carried away by the cares of this world and we forget the essential and most important things that we should mind about in life. Accepting Jesus Christ into your life is not just enough… there is need to get to know him more in a personal way and this can only be through spending time with him at his feet just as Mary did. READING his word reveals unto us His Character and who He is and spending time in PRAYER; we get to hear his voice and get direction and his will for our lives.
My advice to my new airplane friend came from the core of Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10:41-42. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I said to him: “Slow down and invest yourself in knowing God; let His Word reveal Himself to you.” If we’re too busy to spend time with God, we’re simply too busy for growth.
Our practical application: Take time away from your busy schedules and create time to bond with God and have fellowship with Him. Always remember – Our heavenly Father longs to spend time with His children.
Saturday 29th October 2011
The Word…
"May my life always Radiate thy Glory oh Lord!"
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and Lo! I am with you always till the end of the world.” AMEN!
Matthew 20:19-20
This is the greatest commandment that we have ever been given. “Go ye therefore…” When you got saved, you were not taken to heaven directly, that’s why you are here so that you can help someone else know the truth just as someone else helped you and you came to the light. Many of us think that this call is just for the people in the five-fold ministry just as I used to think, but Jesus was speaking to you and Me. We have no excuse of not going out there to share the love of Christ to the nations. Jesus said, the fields are white and ready for harvest, but the labourers are few. Once you and I avail ourselves to go and be part of the labourers, we will fill out the empty pews in the church and the devils kingdom will be on the losing end.
Word of Life is a site whose aim and agenda is to equip you daily with the word of God and encourage you to fulfill the mission and purpose that God has called you to do here on earth. I don’t want us when we reach heaven to be told that… you had this soul to bring to the kingdom and now it is perishing…. NO!!! I want a situation whereby, we will all be commended by God for a work well done “Good and faithful servant….” That will be my joy when we will all be gathered together to celebrate our Victory.
This is a call I am making to you who is reading this blog, don’t just benefit, inform your friends, family and everyone else and let us help each other in this journey of faith till we reach our heavenly home.
Yours in Christ’s vineyard,
Dennis.
Follow Me on your Email
My Facebook Page
