Monday, December 31, 2007

For these 2 months....

THE GREAT DIVIDE
November-December 2007


'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.' John 1:14

One simple phrase has been described as 'The Great Divide of Christianity': 'The Word became flesh ...'

These words from John's Gospel separate the Christian faith from all other religions. Here we read of the Living Word, who stepped out of eternity and into our lives. Instead of following a set of rules, we can follow a Person – Jesus. And this Person, who is also our God, has identified with our humanity and defeated death for us.

In this issue, Selwyn considers the uniqueness of Christ. See how, through our Saviour, we have the inexhaustible resources to face anything and emerge 'more than conquerors'!

Click here to download PDF of first week. To get the devotional data for the whole bimonth, please approach any good Christian bookstore to get a copy.

Source: http://www.cwr.org.uk/publishing/edwj/latest/index.php

Flawless character

Luke 23:13-15,41,47

1. What did people acknowledge about Christ?

They examined Christ and realized he has done nothing to deserve death. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."

Hebrews 7:11-28

2. What divided Jesus from other religious leaders?

Jesus is one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Life creative

2 Kings 4:8-17

1. How did the woman express creativity?

When the woman saw Elisha, a man of God, she urged him to stop for a meal. She even make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.

Colossians 1:1-10

2. What are we called to express?

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The reason for living

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1. Why is personal sacrifice for others insufficient?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

2. What are the characteristics of pure love?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

An open heart

Luke 10:25-37

1. What was Jesus' teaching about love?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

2. What was Paul's teaching about love?

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

One burning message

Philippians 1:1-11

1. What was Paul's prayer for the Philippians?

Paul's prayer: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

2. Why did Paul commend the Thessalonians?

It is because their faith is growing more and more, and the love every one has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches they boast about their perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials the Thessalonians are enduring.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Where your love starts

Luke 23:39-43

1. Why would a criminal go into paradise?

It is because the criminal admitted his sins and confess Jesus is Lord who is punished for doing nothing wrong. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Ephesians 2:1-10

2. What was God's motivation to save us?

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

The greatest pain

John 14:25-26

1. What would the Holy Spirit do?

The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:7-15

2. Why was it good for the disciples that Jesus was going away?

It is for the disciple's good that Jesus was going away. Unless Jesus goes away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if Jesus goes, He will send him to them. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Jesus said "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."

Saturday, December 1, 2007

'Listen to Him!'

Psalms 19:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-3

1. How has God spoken to us?

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

2. What is different about Jesus?

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.