Ian's Messy Desk » Devotional

Advent Devotional

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:45:17 +0000

VERSE:
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord had made known to us.” —Luke 2: 15

THOUGHT:
The shepherds realized that the message brought to them by the Angels had come from God. God was leading them to the stable in Bethlehem. As we are preparing our hearts through the Advent season, God has been leading us to the true meaning of Christmas, that His Son came to the world to bring us to a personal relationship with God. As we light the fourth Advent candle, let us listen for the message that God is making known to us.

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Advent Devotional

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:08:33 +0000

VERSE:
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. —Luke 2:6-7

THOUGHT:
The third Advent candle is the candle of birth. Christ’s birth brought the light of salvation to the world.

The Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

Recommended: The Zen Habits Handbook for Life!

Advent Devotional

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:55:41 +0000

VERSE:
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” —Luke 1:30–33

THOUGHT:
The angel brought God’s announcement to Mary. Her son would be the Son of the Most High, God’s salvation for us. As you light the second candle, think of how your life can announce Christ to your family, friends and neighbours.

[tags]Advent, Christmas, devotional[/tags]

Recommended: The Zen Habits Handbook for Life!

Proverbs 31:8

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:53:22 +0000

VERSE:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. — Proverbs 31:8

Thought:
All that we have, our possessions, our position, our power, is not ours; it is a gift from God. These gifts are not given merely to make our lives comfortable; they come with responsibility. God expects us to use what we have to champion the rights of those who lack the means to speak for and defend themselves.

Proverbs 27:1

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:54:12 +0000

VERSE:
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. —Proverbs 27:1

THOUGHT:
We tend to place a lot of faith in our plans for the future. We are quick to brag about what we expect to accomplish. We take tomorrow for granted. The fact is, we don’t know what tomorrow may bring or even if there will be a tomorrow. We can be sure of one thing, however, God knows what tomorrow will bring. Tomorrow is in His hands. It might not be what we expect or even what we want. It will go as God has planned and that should be enough for us!

The Stewardship of Power

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:08:22 +0000

VERSE:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

THOUGHT:
There’s a scene in the first Spiderman movie where Peter Parker’s uncle gives him advice that motivates Peter to become the web-slinging crime fighter. His uncle tells him, “With great power comes great responsibility.” While the dialogue is a clichéd plot device, there is a strong ring of truth in that statement for Christians.

James points out that the power of our faith carries a responsibility to practical action. It is not enough to pronounce a benediction on someone in need, we have to turn it into something tangible that will relieve the need. The Founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth, recognized that he would have no right or success preaching the gospel, if he did not first fill the hungry stomach or clothe the naked back.

We need to create a “living” faith by adding practical work to our belief.

[tags]stewardship, devotional thought, power[/tags]

Psalm 95:1-5

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:27:24 +0000

Verse:
Come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come before him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing him psalms of praise.
For the LORD is a great God,
the great King above all gods.
He owns the depths of the earth,
and even the mightiest mountains are his.
The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
His hands formed the dry land, too. Psalm 95:1-5 (NLT)

Thought:
Have you ever noticed how many of the things we call problems, are just reflections of personal selfishness? Oh, there are serious problems that people struggle with, but much of what causes us to grumble and complain is insignificant compared to the needs of so many in the world today. We bemoan the prices in our grocery stores while tens of thousands die of starvation.

Stewardship has to begin with gratitude. We need to acknowledge that all we have comes from God and that, as God has blessed us with much, He has placed a great responsibility on us to look after those in need. Amazingly, as we work faithfully to fulfill that responsibility, our gratitude will increase.

[tags]devotional thought, thanks, gratitude, thanksgiving, Psalm 95[/tags]

Proverbs 19:20-21

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:45:03 +0000

VERSE:
Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. –Proverbs 19:20-21

THOUGHT:
Charles Dickens wrote, in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, “Man proposes, heaven disposes.” Most of us are quick to give advice or to make big plans. Proverbs reminds us that wisdom comes from taking the time to accept instruction. Only then will wisdom come. As we pray for wisdom, we need to pray for patience to wait for, and insight to recognize God’s purpose.

Philippians 4:13

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:37:07 +0000

VERSE:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13

THOUGHT:
Are there things that you know you should be doing or that need doing, but perhaps you lack the confidence to get them done? By any measure, Paul’s life was filled with difficult circumstances. He was rejected by his peers, abandoned by friends, stoned, shipwrecked, ridiculed, chased, beaten and imprisoned for his faith. Through all of this he maintained a confident hope. He knew that what he was doing was not measured as earthly accomplishment, but by God’s standard. He knew that if there was work to be carried out for God’s kingdom, he could accomplish it through Christ’s strength. What is God calling you to do? You can do it through Christ who gives you strength.

[tags]Philippians 4:13, devotional[/tags]

Philippians 4:8

Ian McKenzie — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:39:34 +0000

Verse:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. –Philippians 4:8

Thought:
It’s my right to… or If it feels good… These are the standards by which most people set their behaviour. As followers of Christ, we are called to follow a higher standard. Are you adjusting your behaviour to the relative standards of the world or do you measure yourself against a holy standard of those things that are true, lovely, good and virtuous.

[tags]devotional, Philippians 4:8, integrity[/tags]