Walk With Me - Devotionals: Una Davis

Are You Listening?

Una Davis — Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Are You Listening?

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 29th May 2022

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Do you find that very often when you are speaking to someone you realise that they are not really listening to you? Preachers can get that feeling as they look at their congregation! If only one could read the people's thoughts, no doubt some would be thinking of their Sunday lunch or what shopping they need to do on Monday morning, or even what the person in the seat in front of them is wearing! They may be hearing the preacher, but they are not listening. As we might say to children when we want them to take on board what we are saying, 'Focus!' many a preacher would like to say that too!

When Jesus sent messages to the churches we read about in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 he had very serious message for them — some of praise, some of warning, some of sharp criticism. To every one of the churches he said 'are you listening to me?' "He who has an ear, let him hear".

This message applies to us as well. When we read our Bible we can very easily forget all about what we have just been reading. We were not really listening to what God was saying to us. If we become good listeners of God's word then we will become good doers of God's word and that is pleasing to God. The Bible says we are blessed when we listen to God's wisdom, so pay attention.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, you know all about us and you know that our thoughts often wander when we read the Bible or hear your Word preached. Help us to listen attentively. Amen.

The Pain Of Knowing I Am A Sinner

Una Davis — Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Pain Of Knowing I Am A Sinner

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 26th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 38:18

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Psalm 38 is a sad psalm and tells of the pain that David the author was suffering. It seems that his whole body was aching and that his friends just didn't understand the reason for his distress. But David himself tells us just why he was in such agony. It was not really because of severe physical illness but it was because of the sense of his sin in the sight of God who is holy and who hates all sin and iniquity.

David was not an ungodly man. He trusted God and knew that salvation comes from God alone. It was because David knew God so well because he knew the holy character of God and how God hates and judges sin that he felt this awful pain when he disobeyed God. He felt he had failed an let down the best friend he ever had.

If we are Christians then we too should take any sin in our lives very seriously. Remember God does hate our sin. If we think seriously about who God is then we will feel the pain of sinning against him. We cannot think lightly of sin if we think rightly of who God is.

But God has given us this wonderful promise: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1:9 NLT)

Prayer

Dear Lord, forgive and cleanse me from all my sin, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

The Bruised Reed

Una Davis — Mon, 23 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Bruised Reed

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 23rd May 2022

Passage: Isaiah 42:1-3

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When you are walking through a field or pushing through long grass and reeds going down to a river's edge you don't pay much attention to whether or not you trample on the grass or squash some of the reeds beside the stream. We may not think the grass and the reeds are important — we just plod on!

In the book of Isaiah chapter 42 is very important because it gives us the first of four 'Songs' about the Servant of the Lord — the Old Testament's portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. The final Song in Isaiah 53 describes in amazing detail the sufferings and death the Lord Jesus would undergo hundreds of years later. In this first Song we are told some really encouraging details of the character of our Lord Jesus and one of these is his empathy with those Christians who find life hard and whose faith may be very fragile at times. The picture of the grass and the reeds comes in here. Jesus is someone who will care for and restore a reed someone has trampled on and bruised. He will comfort and encourage every Christian who is in need of his help. Jesus said those who mourn will be comforted. He went to the home of Martha and Mary to comfort them over the death of their brother. On another occasion he said "come to me... for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29).

Prayer

Dear Lord, when my faith is weak, help me to remember that you always care for me. Amen.

Walking And Leaping And Praising God

Una Davis — Tue, 17 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Walking And Leaping And Praising God

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 17th May 2022

Passage: Acts 3:8

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You can imagine the reaction can't you if someone came in to the church service 'walking and leaping and praising God' at the top of his voice? The scene in the Jerusalem temple must have been just as startling and unusual. People were used to giving money to a disabled beggar at the temple entrance; but now here was that same fellow going daft inside — but he had never walked before let alone leapt! The great change came when Peter and John told him they had no money to give him but they had something infinitely better so that he would never need to be a beggar again. Peter said to him "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" Peter took the man by the right hand and helped him to his feet and immediately he was healed and followed Peter and John into the temple praising God and creating a fuss! No wonder the people were filled with astonishment at what had happened.

As people gathered around Peter and John and the healed man Peter began to preach telling the people that it was through Jesus that this man had been healed — Jesus who had been crucified but whom God had raised from the dead. He urged people to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus still works miracles. It is by his power that people are converted and brought to faith in him for salvation. Has that miracle happened in your life yet? If not ask Jesus to come into your heart.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart so that I may know the joy of your salvation. Amen.

From Rags To Riches

Una Davis — Sat, 14 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

From Rags To Riches

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 14th May 2022

Passage: Matthew 5:3

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We are always interested in stories where someone who is born into poverty rises above his background and through effort becomes rich. Jesus Christ speaks about people who were the' blessed ones' and they were poor indeed the word that was used by Jesus describes them as being extremely poor. But Jesus was not speaking about people who had no money or possessions; he was referring to people who realised they had absolutely nothing good in themselves to make them acceptable to God. They realised their nee for him to help them. They realised they needed to see that their only hope of being saved was to depend on God's mercy alone.

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 - there are eight of them — all have to do with people who have decided to put themselves under the reign of God and to live out their lives with God as their King and Lord. When we do this, all the riches of God's kingdom become ours — the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus, the riches of God's mercy, the riches of God's steadfast love. And all of this will make us rich in every way so that we then can be generous in passing on the message of God's rich grace to all who need to hear it.

Rags to riches! It's the story of every Christian because we had nothing to bring to Christ except our sinfulness but in the richness of his mercy he gives us new life in the kingdom of his grace. If you are a Christian thank him now.

Only The Best Will Do

Una Davis — Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Only The Best Will Do

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 11th May 2022

Passage: Leviticus 1:3

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Once I read of two American business men who were visiting Korea. There they saw a young farmer pulling a plough, guided by his father. The Americans mentioned this to the missionary of that area and he told them that the father and son were Christians, and that they had sold their only ox and given the money to help build a new church. "What a sacrifice", said one of the Americans. "That's not the way they look on it", said the missionary. "They count it a great joy that they had an ox to give to the Lord's work."

The book of Leviticus in the Bible is full of references to sacrifice and to the animals to be brought for sacrifice. It is always said that the animals had to be "without blemish" or defects. Only the best would do.

The New Testament tells us in different places how God sent his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, "as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God." (1 John 4:10, The Message). He is the perfect Lamb of God. God's own precious Son — only the best will do!

If we are willing to give the best we have to the one we love the most, think of how God must have loved us — we who did not even love God until in his mercy he loved us first and gave his very best for us. What does God want us to give to him? Only the best will do!

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for Jesus my perfect, precious Saviour. Amen.

Imagine Being Known As A Hypocrite!

Una Davis — Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Imagine Being Known As A Hypocrite!

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 8th May 2022

Passage: Acts 5:3

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"You're a hypocrite!" If someone said that to you, I'm sure you would be hurt especially if they were referring to something you said or did about your faith in Jesus Christ. A hypocrite is someone who tries to deceive people into thinking they are better than they really are.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira were like that trying to make other members of their congregation think they were more generous than they really were. They were hypocrites.

Peter obviously discovered their hypocrisy and he took it very seriously indeed. He saw it as the work of Satan in the hearts of Ananias and his wife and saw their hypocrisy as lying against the Holy Spirit. God is the God of truth he hates lies and Peter knew that if such hypocrisy were to be tolerated then the church would be shown to be unfaithful to God and to Christ; to the truth itself.

Both Ananias and Sapphira paid an awful price for their hypocrisy. It was a dire warning that deliberate sin must not be tolerated among the people who claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly these two people are forever known as hypocrites. If they had confessed their sin and sought forgiveness it would have been so different for them. Unfortunately that did not happen.

Prayer

Dear Lord, take away any hypocrisy from my heart and life, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

When God Hides Himself

Una Davis — Thu, 05 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

When God Hides Himself

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 5th May 2022

Passage: Psalm 10:1

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These words form a cry from the heart that has been echoed by many distressed Christian people over the years. "O Lord, where are you when I need you most?" (NLB)

Does God really hide himself from us and leave us to face the toughest times of our lives by ourselves? The answer to that question is an emphatic' NO'! God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. But there are times when we may feel the force of persecution or times when things just seem to go wrong for us and we become depressed. These are times when we need to persist in our prayers that God will help us — and make us know that he is helping us.

One famous hymn has helpful verses which go like this: You fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and will break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. (William Cowper)

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to trust you even when I cannot 'see' you. Amen.

The Temptation Of Jesus

Una Davis — Mon, 02 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Temptation Of Jesus

Reader: Una Davis

Date: 2nd May 2022

Passage: Matthew 4:1

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It is difficult to think of Jesus being tempted. We read that he was "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26 Yet he was tempted.

Just think how a very little piece of grit can cause you a lot of pain in your eye — it is because your eye is so tender and so sensitive. In the same way our Lord Jesus reacts to any thought of sinfulness. He is pure, holy, altogether separated from sin. But the devil tried so hard to make Jesus sin.

We read that Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights. We are told that forty days is about the longest period a person can fast without permanent damage to the body. Jesus was at his weakest, he was hungry and he needed help. It was then Satan attacked him by suggesting ways in which Jesus could live his life and fulfil his lifework without the necessity of obedience to his heavenly Father or going on to the way of the cross. Jesus, however, never wavered. He fought the devil's temptations with the Word of God and he told the devil to' beat it'! Satan left him and angels came to help him.

Another reason for Jesus' temptations was to show us that he knows how it feels when we are tempted so he can encourage us to face up to Satan and the evil he tempts us to do and he shows us how to tell Satan to go away and we can remain strong in our faith.

When you are tempted call to Jesus for help.