Walk With Me - Devotionals: Sue Simison

Compelled To Carry The Cross

Sue Simison — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Compelled To Carry The Cross

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 30th March 2022

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Just imagine how you might feel if you had to carry the crossbeam of the cross on which Jesus was going to be crucified and put to death. Poor Simon had just come into Jerusalem from the countryside outside the city and he was forced by the soldiers to take up Jesus' cross because he had been made so weak from the terrible beating he received before being taken to the place of death. Roman soldiers were allowed to compel Jewish people to do anything they demanded. They could compel Jewish people to carry loads of goods for them or to hand over their warm coats or whatever they wanted. It was all meant to show that the Romans were the superior power in the country and the Jews were the defeated people. It must have been very humiliating for the Jews.

Jesus taught his followers how to deal with that situation. He said "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles" Matthew 5:41. Jesus wants us to show not just a humble spirit but a willing spirit to suffer insults and injuries for him. Very often Christians can be looked down on because they stand up for Jesus against evil. Jesus himself asks us to take up our cross daily to follow him. We do this, not by force, but out of love to him who died on the cross for us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me day by day to follow you willingly. Amen.

The Jealousy Of God

Sue Simison — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Jealousy Of God

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 27th March 2022

Passage: Exodus 20:5

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Jealousy is one of those words that can be easily misunderstood or used in wrong ways. It may sound strange to our ears to speak of the jealousy of God. What or who makes God jealous? God's jealousy is the jealousy of love for his own people.

Let me tell you a little about the situation God's people were in when he spoke to them the words at the top of this page. God's people, the Israelites, were living among people who worshipped a whole crowd of so-called gods. There were gods of the hills and gods of the valleys, gods of the rivers, gods of thunder, lightning, the sun and the stars. The people who worshipped these false gods made idols representing them and they bowed down to these idols.

God did not want his people to be tempted to join in the worship of these gods - they could not do anything to help them as they were not real, and some of their worship was cruel and horrible. God hated the thought that his people would be caught up in such evil things. He was jealous for them, just as a loving husband would be if he saw his wife going off with another man. God loved them, he cared for them and he didn't want them to be hurt by going the wrong way.

He was also jealous for his own reputation — he is holy and he hated the thought of his name being used in a disrespectful way. God has a holy jealousy for the people he loves and for his name — he and he alone is the living and true God.

But God, That's Not What I Had In Mind!

Sue Simison — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

But God, That's Not What I Had In Mind!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 24th March 2022

Passage: Ezekiel 2:1

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Do you know what you want to do with your life? Have you ever prayed about what you should do? Sometimes things turn out differently from what we had planned!

I love the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel lived back in Old Testament times, and he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He grew up with one thing in his mind — he was going to be a priest in the service of God and his people. But one day God came to him and said, 'You can't be a priest; I want you to be a prophet'. That was not what Ezekiel had in mind. It may well be that God is calling you to some kind of service for him and it may be that it is not what you had in mind. But if God is calling you, stand on your feet and obey him. He will give you all the help you need to do what he wants you to do.

Some years ago a well-known missionary was singing a hymn as he was on his way to his first mission station. He sang, 'King of my life, I crown you now. Yours shall the glory be...' But he was captured and put in solitary confinement in a communist prison. Not what he had in mind — but God made him a blessing to many people. God knew Ezekiel really wanted to be a priest and he often gave him messages to speak to the people in ways that a priest might have done. God cares for all who serve him and understands their hearts.

Prayer

Dear God, help me to know what you want me to do, so may I serve you in the way you want me to do. Amen.

The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God

Sue Simison — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 21st March 2022

Passage: Genesis 1:1

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Christians love to sing praise to God as the Creator of the vast and wonderful universe in which we live. We know God's power keeps it all together every moment.

Psalm 19 sings: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork". Right through the Bible the story is the same. We live in the world God has made in all its vastness and complexity.

Sometimes people say that science tells a different story from the Bible when it comes to creation. They don't include God in their view of the world. But we believe that God is the God of true science as well as being the God of his book, the Bible. Both science and the Bible tell the same story of creation but in different ways.

If we remember this then we can have confidence in our Bible when it speaks about God's acts in creation as well as in teaching about God's salvation for our lives.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I worship you as Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Help me also to worship you as my Saviour and the Lord of my life. Amen.

The Power Of The Gospel

Sue Simison — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Power Of The Gospel

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 18th March 2022

Passage: Romans 1:16

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Have you ever looked up at the sky on a clear starry night and marvelled at the sheer beauty and expanse of the heavens? Just think of the power it took for the Creator to bring all of this into being — much, much more than we can see and much, much more than we can imagine. God is the Creator of the universe.

But God's creative power is used in another way as well. In the Gospel God makes sinful people 'new creations' in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). That same wonderful power that made the world was needed by God to turn helpless, lost, hopeless sinners into new people with a new heart to love and follow Jesus Christ. That shows us just how bad we sinners had become when it needed such power to change and save us.

It is one of the greatest pieces of good news that the world has ever known, giving hope and rescue to people who had become utterly powerless to change their lives. But the power of God can do all of that by making a 'new creation' out of that old life.

Have you felt that power in your life, the power that changes us into someone who thankfully follows the Lord?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for the power of the Cross which brings me to rejoice in your salvation. Amen.

Touching The Untouchable

Sue Simison — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Touching The Untouchable

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 15th March 2022

Passage: Mark 1:41

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The little story told here in Mark 1: 40-45 and also in Matthew and Luke's gospels is one of the most moving stories in the Gospels. At the heart of the story there was a man with a desperate need. He was a leper. We are not told more about him — his leprosy made him ill, made him an outcast and made him someone to be avoided at all costs. But into this man's miserable life came the person of Jesus and he was moved with pity when he saw this poor man. Jesus was so full of pity for him that against all the taboos of the time, he stretched out his hand and touched the man, something no on else would dare to do .

But Jesus did more than touch the man, he healed him — willingly and immediately and fully. 'The leprosy left him and he was clean' (Verse 42). Jesus' compassion was powerful.

Actually, we are all unclean in the sight of God — our sin has made us that way and it has cut us off from God. But Jesus still comes to touch us, to clean us, to save us through his sinless life, the sacrifice of his death and his infinite mercy. In the Bible story, the leper said to Jesus "If you are willing, you can make me clean" (Verse 40). Just as Jesus said, "I am willing, be clean", so he will respond to you when you ask for his forgiveness and mercy — and you too will be clean!

Let Me Say This Again!

Sue Simison — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Let Me Say This Again!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 12th March 2022

Passage: Leviticus 19:3-4

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How do you emphasise what you want somebody to hear or take careful notice of? You can raise your voice if you are speaking to someone or you could underline or print in large letter if you are writing? Preachers love to repeat things once or twice to get an important point across! The Book of Psalms has lots of examples of repeating a word to two so people will see how important their message is. For example, Psalm 84:8 says "Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob."

God also has his way of emphasising his teaching and we see lots of examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments. One great example of this is in the book of Leviticus. (God thought it especially important for his people at that time). Forty-nine times God repeated the words "I am the Lord" or "I am the Lord your God". In the New Testament Jesus often would say "Truly, truly I say to you". You have to sit up and take notice when you come upon emphases like that. In Leviticus God was emphasising that he is the only living and true God, that he has all authority and that he loved his people. The same message comes to us from the Lord Jesus. All authority belongs to him, salvation comes to us through him and it is in him that we find the great example of how we should live. God is saying "Let me say that again!". Listen to Him.

Prayer

O Lord, help me to heed what you say to me in the Bible — even if you have to repeat it many times. Thank you.

The Great God Who Cares For Me

Sue Simison — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Great God Who Cares For Me

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 9th March 2022

Passage: Psalm 147:11

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I'm sure there have been times when you have wondered if God really does car for you. You are not the only one who has wondered that. Even the Bible itself is full of questions - "Why, Lord? or "How long, O Lord?".

But the Bible is also full of assurances that God does care for us — he holds each of his own people in the hollow of his hand and clasps them close to his heart. This is true even when life does seem to be getting hard, even a bit out of hand. Psalm 147:11 assures us that God's people always get God's attention — he, like a tender shepherd, cares for us.

The same verse also assures us that we do not need to try to do things in our own strength — we can depend upon God's strength to take us through life's hard experiences. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4). The strength of God we depend on is part of his steadfast love for all his people. Some elderly folk we know need carers to come in to help them each day. God is the greatest carer — we can always depend on him.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me always to remember that you care for me, even when I cannot sense your presence. Amen.

What A Great Way To End A Great Letter!

Sue Simison — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What A Great Way To End A Great Letter!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 6th March 2022

Passage: Romans 16:25-27

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Over all the centuries since Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome this letter has been one of the greatest life-changing pieces of writing the world has known. Paul closes his letter with this brilliant song of praise to' the only wise God'.

Paul praises God first of all, because God is able to make us strong, stable Christians through the Gospel and teaching of Jesus Christ. Secondly, God is praised for giving us the Scriptures and showing us how the Old Testament teaches us about Jesus just as the New Testament does. Thirdly, God is praised because he and he only is the one who has the authority to command us to believe on him and obey him. This sums up what Paul has been teaching throughout his letter to the Romans — the Gospel, the Bible and the obedience to God, all coming into our experience through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

To you oh God be the glory for ever. Amen.

Jesus Is living In Me!

Sue Simison — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Jesus Is living In Me!

Reader: Sue Simison

Date: 3rd March 2022

Passage: Colossians 1:27

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What does it mean when we say 'Christ in you' or' Jesus is living in me'? When we are converted the Lord Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts by his Spirit. This is something we cannot see or maybe something we don't even feel but it will be something that we will come to see and feel through the changes that will take place in our lives.

One of the hymn writers described the difference that Jesus makes in our lives in this way : "Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green, Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen". In other words, our attitudes change to the things around us, to the people around us and most importantly to God himself. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation". The Christian is in Christ and Christ is in the Christian! As' new creations' we live a new life that now has new motives, new desires, a great new focus — to honour God and walk worthy of hi for all that he has don for us through Jesus Christ.

As I realise more and more of what it means that Christ lives in me, I become more and more aware of what Christ has done for me. I think more of the cross and how "Jesus loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Prayer

'Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all the Saviour's powers, come, pour into our hearts his love, and that shall kindle ours. (Isaac Watts) Amen.