Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

May 25th - Luke 6:24-25

Luke 6:24-25

These words would have come as a huge surprise for Jesus’ hearers. They had been taught that being wealthy and well fed now were signs of God’s blessing.

Jesus was seeking to wake his disciples up to the fact that you can’t have it both ways. If your single goal is to be wealthy now, you can’t expect to have God’s blessing. If becoming materially rich is your god, there is no space for the one true God, and disaster will inevitably result.

This teaching was entirely consistent with Jesus’ revolutionary message. He was turning everything upside down.

The key question for us is a persistent one: What is our goal in life? What are we really seeking to achieve?

It isn’t wrong to earn money and to seek success in our work. It isn’t wrong to have possessions or to seek to own more possessions. But when those things become our reason for living, we have missed the boat, and we put ourselves in a dangerous place. These are important issues for us to be clear about. Our society will continually peddle the lie that our money and possessions are the best goal in life. But they are not.

The apostle Paul got it right when he spoke about the way in which he had found contentment. He found it in Christ and, because of his relationship with the Lord, he knew how to “live on almost nothing or with everything.”

In writing to the church in Philippi, he said he had learned to be content: “I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (Philippians 4:12). What a wonderful secret to discover!

QUESTION

Have you learnt how to be content in every situation?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help me to find complete contentment in my relationship with you, and not to rush after things which can only give me temporary satisfaction. Amen

May 24th - Luke 6:22-23

Luke 6:22-23

These are amazing words and, once again, they turn our normal human thinking upside down. That’s what Jesus did all the time. The idea of being hated, excluded, mocked and cursed is a horrible one. We spend much of our lives deliberately seeking to avoid such terrible experiences.

But if we face those reactions because of our love for Jesus, we should be supremely happy. Jesus said we should “leap for joy” because we are living in obedience to him. And, as usual, he reminded his followers that they would be generously rewarded for their trouble. For many of us, these words may feel very remote and disconnected from our present circumstances. But for some, these words accurately reflect daily life.

Perhaps your family, work colleagues or neighbours are continually unkind about your Christian faith. They take every opportunity to belittle Christianity and laugh at the way in which you waste your time going to church with that “bunch of hypocrites.” If this is your experience, first of all, I want to praise you for your daily courage and faithfulness. But far more importantly, I want you to hear the words of blessing from Jesus himself.

You may not feel like leaping for joy but you can be sure that you have chosen the most blessed path. May God give you grace, patience and peace as you continue to live for him.

It’s important that we keep the world dimension in view. We are part of a world-wide Church numbering hundreds of millions of people. Within that vast community are thousands of people who are being specifically targeted because of their love for the Lord. There are people in prison today for no other reason than their faith in Jesus Christ. There are others who live in daily fear of physical violence because they are Christians.

We must not take these words of Jesus lightly. At any time, we might be picked on because of our Christian faith. We need to realise what a demanding, blessed and joyful path that is.

QUESTION

How do you respond when people laugh at your faith?

PRAYER

Lord God, I pray especially today for those who suffer terribly because of their Christian faith. May they stay close to you. And please help me to stand up for you however tough it might be. Amen

May 23rd - Luke 6:20-21

Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.”

These words are a shorter version of the Beatitudes that we find in Matthew’s Gospel, and they show that Jesus came to turn our normal human thinking upside down. Nothing less. This is the purest form of revolution. He wasn’t saying that it is good to be poor, hungry or sad, but that God is able to do wonderful things for those who recognise their poverty, hunger or sadness and seek his help.

The only people whom God can help are those who come to him with an awareness of their need. That’s the problem with arrogance. The Bible tells us that God hates pride because such people are so full of themselves that they don’t want anything from him. He would love to bless them, but he can’t get close because they are so stuck up and self-confident. God wants us to come to him with open hands and an eagerness to receive from him.

God wants us to recognise that we have nothing of any worth without him. When we look at ourselves and see that all our achievements and possessions are of no lasting value, then we can see that what really matters is our spiritual wealth. Then we are able to enter his kingdom and see the treasure of his love, joy and peace.

While we may find satisfaction and temporary pleasure in success, God can’t bless us as he wants to. But when we see that only God can give us the nourishment which really counts, we will be incredibly hungry. And then God can satisfy us.

Jesus knew all about the pain of loss. When his friend Lazarus died, he wept openly. But he also knew that weeping would not have the last word. He came to bring resurrection life. So those who weep real tears of pain and brokenness can be confident that God’s joy will, eventually, win the day.

QUESTION

In what specific ways do Jesus’ words give you encouragement today?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that you invite me to look at life with new eyes. Thank you for the satisfaction and joy that you give to all who follow you. Amen

May 22nd - Luke 6:12-13

Luke 6:12-13

This was a big moment in Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t come into this world to set up an organisation, but to share a message. And for that, he needed people who would work closely with him; people who would get to know him and his message and pass it on to others.

Because of his status as the Son of God, one might assume that he automatically made brilliant decisions but Luke often emphasises his reliance on prayer. In the previous chapter, Luke recorded that Jesus “often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (Luke 5:16). Here, as he prepared to call the twelve apostles, we find him spending the whole night on a mountainside with God in prayer.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to spend so much time with his heavenly Father in prayer, how much more do we?

We may have a regular rhythm of prayer but, even so, there will be times when the decisions we need to make are so major that we need to set aside special time to meet with God. Heading into the wilderness or up a mountain are optional but, throughout the centuries, Christians have often found it helpful to periodically retreat from normal life in order to pray. The important thing is to be away from the things that distract us, so that we can focus our thoughts completely on God.

We don’t know exactly why Jesus chose twelve men to work with him. It may have been in order to reflect the twelve tribes of the Old Testament. But whatever the reason, Jesus was ushering in a completely new era. And it was based not on blood line but on commitment to him.

QUESTION

Where do you go for your special times of prayer?

PRAYER

Lord God, thank you for the blessing of prayer. Help me to treasure it and to put it at the heart of my life. Amen

May 21st - Luke 5:37-39

Luke 5:37-39

Wine skins, usually made from goat hides, were the normal way of preserving wine in Jesus’ day. As we all know, skin dries out with time and so it would be absurd to put new wine into old wineskins. It would soon be completely lost. Jesus’ point was clear: he was introducing new wine and there was absolutely no point trying to contain it within the old wineskins of Judaism. He was ushering in a completely new age, but this was exactly what many people didn’t want to hear. They wanted to stick with
the familiar.

Through the centuries, the Church has been famous for resisting change. We like to hang on to the old, familiar ways and are often resistant to new ideas. But Jesus has called us to be like children; to have an adventurous spirit in which we are continually learning, growing and discovering. I thank God for the godly older people I have known, whose love for the Lord has led them to be generously open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. We should never embrace change for change’s sake, but because we see the Lord leading us in new and exciting ways.

I love the story of General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. He once met up with the writer, Rudyard Kipling, who had an intense dislike of the Salvation Army’s use of tambourines and their enthusiastic worship style. Booth told him: “Young man, if I thought I could win one more soul for Christ by standing on my head and beating a tambourine with my feet I would learn how to do it.”

As we follow Jesus day by day, we need to be continually open to the new wine of the kingdom of God, and be ready to embrace new ways of serving the Lord.

QUESTION

How open are you to change?

PRAYER 

Lord God, I thank you for the new wine that you have given me. Help me to always be thirsty for more. Amen

May 20th - Luke 5:29-30

Luke 5:29-30

Levi the tax collector is better known to us as Matthew. There were many kinds of tax at the time. There was a poll tax, which men aged 14 to 65 and women aged twelve to 65 had to pay. There was also a ground tax: one-tenth of all that was grown, and one-fifth of wine and oil, to be paid in kind or in money. And then there was income tax of one percent. However, that was only the start of the taxes and duties that had to be paid. There was a tax payable for the use of roads, harbours and markets, and people using a cart had to pay for each wheel and each animal that pulled it. In short, tax was a complicated and extensive part of life, and tax collectors could become very rich.

Nobody takes great pleasure in paying tax but, at the time, tax collectors were particularly disliked. They worked closely with the hated Roman administration. Consequently, they were barred from attending synagogue and were viewed as the dregs of society, classed together with murderers and robbers. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were at the other end of the social scale. They were respectable and admired for their ritual and spiritual purity. That involved keeping a considerable distance from people as distasteful as tax collectors.

When Jesus called Levi to be one of his disciples, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was declaring that everyone was welcome to follow him. He would have been well aware that it would annoy the Pharisees, but Jesus didn’t merely welcome Levi, he also accepted an invitation to a party where more tax collectors would be present!

To the shocked Pharisees, Jesus simply pointed out that healthy people didn’t need a doctor, only the sick did. He hadn’t come for those who thought they were spiritually healthy, but for those who knew that they were sinners.

I don’t know if you have ever been tempted to divide people up between those who are respectable and those who are not. But remember this: the arms of Jesus are wide open to everyone.

QUESTION

Who would be seen as the dregs of society today, and how can we reach them with the good news of Jesus?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that your arms are open wide to every kind of person. Amen

May 19th - Luke 5:18-19

Luke 5:18-19

You can imagine the scene. Jesus had become an incredibly popular preacher and healer, and huge crowds were eager to meet him. At the same time, he was arousing the interest of the religious leaders who were anxious about his growing reputation, and had come to question him.

On this particular day, he had decided to speak in the house in which he was staying, possibly because it was so hot outside. All of that meant that it was impossible for this group of men to get their paralysed friend anywhere him. But they were determined that he shouldn’t miss out.

The men climbed up onto the flat roof and started to dismantle it. At this point, it is wise not to think of the roof as being similar to your own! It would have been constructed out of mud and branches. The mud was as hard as concrete, but it would have been relatively easy to break through - although I am sure the owner didn’t appreciate the mess they made! It was an imaginative (and successful!) way of getting the paralysed man to the feet of Jesus, who promptly forgave the man his sins and healed him.

The only way in which the paralysed man could get to Jesus was through the commitment of his friends. Their determination and creative thinking were crucial. And it is still the same today. Many people will never hear about Jesus unless we show true friendship and think of creative ways of helping them to reach him.

For some years, I have been involved with a number of Christian organisations which seek to make it easier for people with disabilities to meet Jesus. One of those organisations, called Through the Roof, was inspired by this story. For all sorts of reasons, many people need help to get to Jesus. The question is: are we willing to be true friends and make this possible?

QUESTION

Can you think of someone who might need your friendship to meet with Jesus?

PRAYER

Loving Jesus, please show me how I can help others to meet with you. Amen

May 18th - Luke 5:10-11

Luke 5:10-11

So far as we know, this is the first time that Jesus had ever met Simon. We have learnt that Jesus had borrowed his boat to use as a convenient pulpit, and then gave Simon orders to fish in a new area, which resulted in an enormous catch.

In the very next moment, Jesus informs Simon that he wants to change his life around! I find that amazing. If it had been me, I would have wanted to get to know Simon better and then, gently (and probably after a few days) I may have suggested he help me with some recruiting. Jesus’ bold approach tells us that recruiting disciples was right at the heart of his ministry. And he wanted them to know that, from day one, he expected them to be just as eager to recruit people, too.

Over the years, the Church has often been tempted to leave recruitment to the ‘professionals’. Ministers and evangelists are seen as the people who should be fishing for new disciples. However, that clearly wasn’t Jesus’ intention. Ministers and evangelists may be very effective at evangelism, and training others to get involved, but Jesus wants us all to share in this incredibly important and exciting activity.

Very few people become Christians after hearing a wonderful sermon, or being given brilliant answers to all their questions. Most people choose to follow Jesus because they have seen the life of another Christian. They have witnessed their peace and joy and have been attracted to following Christ for themselves. So we all have a role to play in this, and it starts the moment that we decide to follow Jesus. Indeed, those who have recently become Christians are often the most effective in introducing others to him!

I am well aware that many people feel awkward when the subject of evangelism is raised. Often, we would love to leave it to someone else. But that’s not Jesus’ way. We have all been invited to share in it, not because we are well informed or experienced, but because we had a need that Jesus has been able to satisfy. As DT Niles puts it: “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”

QUESTION

Who could you tell about Jesus?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for asking me to share your good news with others. Help me to be gentle and wise in the way that I do so. Amen

May 17th - Luke 5:8-9

Luke 5:8-9

If you have ever talked to fishermen, you will know that they have a great sensitivity for their work. It is dangerous and demanding, and they are eager to be successful. They are often very good at anticipating where the fish are and how they are likely to respond. So when a complete stranger offered Simon Peter and his friends some advice, they were bound to take it with a pinch of salt. But how wrong they were. Jesus’ advice to head out into deeper water resulted in a huge catch, to the complete amazement of the experienced fishermen.

Simon Peter’s response is really interesting. He was so overwhelmed by it that he didn’t know how to cope and asked Jesus to go away. The amazing blessing of the great haul of fish drew attention to his sinfulness. He didn’t feel worthy of such an incredible success. As we read through the Gospels, we get to know Peter really well and what is most striking about him is his honesty. In this first encounter, we see that very clearly.

Meeting God is always an amazing experience. The Old Testament introduces us to a succession of people who felt this: Moses was on the run after murdering an Egyptian, and considered himself totally unsuitable to lead his people. When Isaiah met God
in the Temple, he saw it as a hopeless situation because the holiness of God shone such a bright light on his own unholiness, and the unholiness of his society. Jeremiah objected to God’s call because he considered himself much too young. Time after time, we meet people who heard the call of God and were overwhelmed by the experience.

Simon Peter needed to learn about God’s grace. Yes, he was indeed a sinful man, and he could never deserve the generous blessings of God. But that’s the way God works. You and I are sinful but God loves to bless us regardless.

QUESTION

How do you respond to God’s amazing blessings?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that you love to bless me even though I am sinful and could never deserve your generosity. Amen

May 16th - Luke 5:4-6

Luke 5:4-6

People have fished in the Sea of Galilee for thousands of years. There are 27 types of fish found in the fresh water lake, the most famous being the Tilapia Galiliea. When it is mature, the fish can be up to 40cm long and 1.5kg in weight. It’s often known as the St Peter’s fish.

Jesus’ ministry was largely based around Capernaum, one of the main fishing communities on the lake and so, from the beginning, he had a lot to do with its fishermen.

On this particular day, Jesus decided that a boat would make a convenient pulpit. Spotting an empty fishing vessel, he asked its owner, Simon, to push out from the land. At the time, Simon was mending his nets after an unsuccessful fishing trip. Once Jesus had concluded his preaching, he told Simon to head out into deep water to make a catch. Simon pointed out that their last trip had been a complete failure, but he took Jesus at his word - and the result was incredible. He landed such an enormous catch that his nets were on the verge of breaking.

This amazing event began Simon’s relationship with Jesus, and it taught him a crucial lesson. Through the years to come, he needed to remember to trust Jesus completely, even when he asked him to do really surprising things.

It’s interesting that Simon had a very similar experience after Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples had returned to Galilee and gone back to fishing but had had a fruitless night. A stranger asked them how they were doing, and they admitted that they hadn’t caught anything. He then told them to throw their net on to the right side of the boat, and they brought in a huge haul of fish.

It was then that John identified the stranger as being Jesus himself and, in his excitement, Simon, now called Peter, jumped into the water and headed for the shore to greet Jesus. As Jesus’ earthly ministry came to an end, he reminded Peter of the fundamental need for him to obey his commands, and of the incredible blessings that would follow if he did so.

QUESTION

What is Jesus calling you to do for him today?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for the amazing blessings which flow when we are obedient to you. Help us to be obedient to you today. Amen