November 11, 2003 - November 21, 2003

Daily Devotionals

Tuesday 11 November 2003

John 10: 27,28 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

(As members of Christís flock, all the littleness of earthly life is gone and we know the splendour and magnificence of the life of God that knows no end. No matter what, I will be conscious of the everlasting arms underneath and about me. I will know the serenity of God in a world crashing to disaster.)

Wednesday 12 November 2003

John 10: 30

I and my Father are one.

(The attitude of Jesus was one of God confidence, not self confidence. The bond of unity is love and the proof of love is obedience. Jesus is one with God because He loved and obeyed Him. As Christians we are one with each other when we are bound by love and obey the words of Christ.)

Thursday 13 November 2003

John 10:37,38

Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles,  that you may learn and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.

( A deed is beyond argument in Jesus, because he bases his claims on who He is and not just on what he says.)

Friday 14 November 2003

John 10:40

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to Him.

(Jesus always armed Himself to meet people by first meeting God. It would often do our souls a world of good to make a pilgrimage to the place where we first found God.)

Tuesday, 18 November 2003

John 11:3, 4

So the sisters sent word to Jesus.

(When I need extraordinary help Jesus offers extraordinary resources.)

This sickness will not end in death. No it is for God's glory so that God's son may be glorified through it.

(I should see my problems as opportunities to honour Him. He can bring good out of bad. There is no other way to glory than through the cross. While I may not always be able to control how I feel I can control my choices.)

Wednesday 19 November 2003

John 11:6

Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

(God will meet all our needs according to His perfect schedule and purpose. Patiently await his timing.)

Thursday 20 November 2003

John 11:14,15

So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.

(Sometimes we must experience hurt to reveal God's power over hurt. The design of God is that every one of us should be a living proof of God's power. Crises give rise to opportunities.)

Friday 21 November 2003

John 11:25

Jesus said to her : I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

(When I believe in Jesus I accept what He says about God and about life and stake everything on it : freed from fear, frustration and the futility of life. I enter into two relationships: A relationship with God in which I am absolutely sure of his love and a new relationship with life : life has a new loveliness because Jesus will help me live as He commanded.)

Monday 24 November 2003

John 11:33

Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He groaned in the Spirit and was troubled.

(We have a God who cares. He expressed deep emotion. We must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to Him. He understands them because he experienced them. Be honest with God.  Don’t try to hide anything.)

Tuesday 25 November 2003

John 11:40

Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?

(Everything Jesus did was due to the power of God and designed for the glory of God. How different I am. So much is attempted in my own power and designed for my own prestige. There would be wonders in my life if I ceased to act by myself and for myself and set God in the central place.)

Wednesday 26 November 2003

John 11:43

Lazarus come forth.

(Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He can raise me from being dead in sin.)

Thursday 27 November 2003

John 12:3

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

(Mary took the most precious thing she possessed and spent it all on Jesus. Love is not love if it nicely calculates the cost. It gives its all and its only regret is that it has not still more to give. Love is also humble and not self-conscious. )

Friday 28 November 2003

John 12:10

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well.

(Blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink even deeper into sin. One sin leads to another. The downward spiral can be stopped only by repentance and asking for forgiveness.)