Davy's Devotions

   Gen 37:23   So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24   and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  Pride takes many forms. However much we think we can avoid it, there is always something we feel pride in, whether it is an achievement of ours, or our children or a sports team, or music group we follow. I have seen "pride comes before a fall" quoted often. This saying is based on Proverbs 16:18, and like so may other quotations, slightly misquoted. The actual wording in the NIV is  " Pride   goes before destruction,    a haughty spirit before a fall" Yet can we truly live without some sense of pride? Even a monk in a monastry might have some pride at the work they complete, or their dedication to ritual. I would imagine Jesus as a young carpenter felt at least some pride in his workmanship. The real issue to me...

 Luke 15:21   “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.   I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22   “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  23   Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  24   For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. How do we know God forgives us. Can we be sure we do not have to perform a myriad of deeds to win God's favour? The parable of the prodigal son teaches us the answer to these questions. The son having taken his inheritence goes off to foreign lands and squanders the wealth on woman and material pleasures. Having ran out of money and close to starvation he makes a decision to go back to his Father and plead for forgiveness, offering to work the Father's land.   I wo...

 2 Cor 1:3   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4   who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5   For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ Years ago a deacon I respected, whilst a hymn was being played, turned to me and said "I never sing along to this part as it is simply not true for me." The words were "and now I am happy all the day". I have to say, though surprised I had to agree with him. I certainly wasn't happy all the day, not then and not always now. There are speakers who talk of a joy, or inner peace, and I accept that this is something we can attain as a Christian, but perpetual happiness? Perhaps you have been scared to admit as a Christian you do not feel happy or even full of joy all day, because it might somehow m...

 John 9:25   He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”  I have heard Christians say they really cannot understand why people choose not to believe the Gospel, or that they are simply in denial. That would not be my experience. I get the fact people find the Gospel message something difficult to comprehend. I also understand why the stories in the old testament in particular seem very wild and also often genocidal.   I have heard many testimonies, most of people who did very bad things and then were saved. Others who were in the pit of despair through drugs or alcohol and survived after an encounter with the truth. Again I have heard the arguments on how life could not have just appeared by itself, true that I get that as well, but that does not prove the Christian message is valid. In fact I have known people to get clean of drugs and alcohol with no religious conviction. I have seen people involve...

   Nehemiah 3:14   The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem.  He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. Rebuilding a city is no mean task. There must have been so many important tasks and sought after professions in the re--building. No doubt there would be many important people and some beautiful buildings. This verse tells us not of an important building but a gate. A dung gate at that! It would not have been the most pleasant of locations in the city and it was not a place you would want to dwell for long. However it was an important task. The gate needed to be strong as it was also part of a fortified garrison. Enemies could find a way in the weakest part of any city, and this gate was just as important to the defences as the main gates.  Some of us in our lives have what we think of as unimportant or menial jobs. Monotonous days doing the same thing over and over again. Yet no hone...

  29  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.   31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.   32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  I think when we read this verse we immediately think it only refers to cursing, or speaking in anger or again, insulting people. Some times though it is the things we say with no bad intention which cause the greatest offense. Not long after I started attending church in my mid 20's, I attended a meal at my church. I was unemployed at the time. Even when I wasn't unemployed I  worked in very low paid jobs but I provided for my fami...

Rom 8.37   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38.   For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [ a ]  neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39.   neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Why, with all our capacity for love towards our own children, do we sometimes doubt the love God has for us; His children? Is it something to do with rejection we felt at some point of our lives? Perhaps we find it difficult to trust others because of past hurts and now have carried this attitude towards God. Whatever the reason it must be understood that it is only us who are feeling this way, God does not. Paul in this section of his letter describes the unfailing love of God through His Son our Lord Jesus.Some people go to conferences and praise nights trying to 'set the ...

1 Peter 3:  20  to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,   21  and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. [ e ]  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are all called to be baptised. Yet the baptism itself is not enough to save us, it is merely an outward show of cleansing from our sin. A recognition of Jesus as our substitute on the cross taking our sin. In this scripture Peter follows on talking about Jesus preaching to the dead, to mentioning of the Ark. Noah had been ordered to build an Ark to save his family and many animals from the coming floodwaters. Everyone else died, you could say it was a baptism of judgement on sinners as they all died within the expanse of the w...

   A young Christian (in years and faith) once said to me, "it's not cool to be a Christian with my friends". I suppose what he really meant was, it's not popular with my non Christian friends. Jesus was not always popular. He said "love your enemies" (Matt 6:44). Friends sometimes say, get your own back. Jesus said "do not commit adultery"(Matt 5:27) some friends say "she/he will never know". Again Jesus said "the eye is the lamp of the body"(Matt 6:22), friends say, there is no harm in looking! Jesus also said "but seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33) Our friends may say look after number one. You know, sometimes friends seem cool and very altogether. But if they knew they were to die tomorrow, how would they spend their last night? Do you think they would be worrying over you? As the last days of Jesus life were played out, he spent the preparation for death by praying for others. John 17:20-24 recounts tha...

  The Angel of the  Lord  at Bokim 2  The angel of the  Lord  went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,   2  and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this?   3  And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’” 4  When the angel of the  Lord  had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud,   5  and they called that place Bokim. [ a ]  There they offered sacrifices to the  Lord  This message given to Hebrew's long ago reflects that relationship which Christians today aspire to. God made a covenant with his...