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Peace
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SELWYN HUGHES
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Peace
POCKET DEVOTIONS
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Copyright Š CWR 2011 Published 2011 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Registered Charity No. 294387. Registered Limited Company No. 1990308. Excerpts in this compilation were taken from issues of Every Day with Jesus, previously published as Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec 2008. Compiled by Ian Sewter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR. For a list of National Distributors visit www.cwr.org.uk/distributors Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), copyright Š 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR Cover image: Digitalvision/Earth Forms Printed in China by 1010. ISBN: 978-1-85345-601-5
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January/February The Nature of the Spiritual Journey March/April Complete in Christ May/June The Burning, Cleansing Flame July/August Wisdom for Living September/October His Story – Our Story November/December Revealed by Name
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JA N UA R Y 1
Divine discipleship F or read in g and me di tat ion 2 Corinthians 3 : 1 – 1 8
‘And we, who … all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory …’ (v.18)
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hough we do not all travel along the road of discipleship at the same rate, I believe there is a divine pattern at work. While the Holy Spirit respects our individuality since every person is different, there are certain stages and experiences through which we must all go for spiritual formation to take place. The phrase ‘spiritual formation’ simply means God’s creation of the image of Christ within us. God is so excited about Jesus that He wants to make everyone like Him. It is the way God goes about the task of producing the image of Christ in us, and the stages we have to go through – stages which are common to us all – that we shall seek to discover as we start another year.
Father God, on this first day of a new year I ask that You will help me to journey with You so I become more like Your Son. Amen.
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January 2
‘Are you saved?’ F or read in g and me di tat ion Luke 24:1–35
‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’ (v.32)
O
ne of the things some Christians fail to understand is that when we become followers of Jesus Christ we are just starting out on a spiritual journey. We are saved when, by faith, we receive the salvation God offers to those who believe that Jesus was sacrificed to take the punishment due to us. But saying we are saved may make it sound as if all the work has been done. Although we are saved from the penalty of sin we are not totally saved from the power of sin (because we do still sin) and we are definitely not saved from the presence of sin. The Christian life is more than making a one-off commitment. We are on a transformational journey that will lead us to a deeper understanding of the Lord.
Lord Jesus, as we journey together, open up the Scriptures to me, reveal Your glory and make Yourself known to me. Amen.
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January 3
‘A gospel of sin management’ F or read in g and me di tat ion R omans 12:1–2 1
‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ (v.2)
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n his book, The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard comments that for many Christians, ‘The current gospel becomes a gospel of sin management’. In other words, Christians become preoccupied with the problem of sin that keeps occurring in their lives. This is an important issue but there is much more to the Christian life. As Christians we have embarked on a transformational journey during which we should be passing from one degree of glory to another. As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 3:18: ‘But all of us who are Christians have no veils on our faces, but reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. We are transfigured, and the transformation comes from the Lord who is the Spirit in ever-increasing splendour into his own image’ (J.B. Phillips). Father, thank You that You love me so much, and that by Your Spirit You seek to transform me into the image of Your own dear Son. Amen.
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January 4
The long walk F or read in g and me di tat ion J ohn 1:1–18
‘From the fulness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.’ (v.16)
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hinking back to my youth, I recall how we would talk repeatedly about our conversion experience and try to recapture the emotion. Walking to the front of the church as a sign of your decision to follow Jesus can be a wonderful thing. Not so long ago I went back to the church where I was converted and stood on the spot where I found Christ. When the Spirit of God gripped me and I walked to the front of the church what I didn’t know, and no one told me, was that the walk didn’t end there but would continue through the whole of my life. Have we been too focused on exuberant beginnings and victorious endings, forgetting the slow unravelling of God’s grace that takes place along our journey?
O God, may I not forget the moment when You so wonderfully stepped into my life, but may I not forget either that You’re not finished with me yet! Amen.
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January 5
‘Microwave Christianity’ F or read in g and me di tat ion Luke 15:11–32
‘So he got up and went to his father.’ (v.20)
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ne writer says that there are three phases through which God takes us: the purgative phase (cleansing of sin), the illuminative phase (the revelation of God’s Word), and the unitive phase (a closer communion with God). The realisation that I was on a journey – a transformational journey – revolutionised my whole way of thinking. Our life is one of ‘becoming’, not simply ‘doing’. It is a process of transformation. The trouble with many Christians these days is that they are in too much of a hurry when it comes to spiritual formation. Someone has called them ‘microwave Christians’. They want everything to happen in a few minutes rather than being willing to take the slow, sure approach to transformation. O God, help me this day to be totally focused on You and not distracted by the things of the world. Amen.
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January 6
The journey of life F or read in g and me di tat ion Deuteronomy 1 0 : 1 2 – 2 2
‘… what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God …’ (v.12)
A
lmost all the great saints of the past recognised that life is a journey, and that on the journey there are steps which every Christian must take. I have identified eight of these steps. That isn’t to say there aren’t more, but certainly not less. The first of these is acceptance of the fact that we need to develop biblical holiness. While considering this subject, my mind went back to a very godly man who, during the early years of my Christian life, sat me down and said, ‘Selwyn, do you realise God’s primary goal for you is not to make you happy but to make you holy? It’s not a matter of happiness first and holiness if possible. Holiness must come first and happiness will then be a consequence.’
O Father, I see that holiness is something I cannot have too much of – I cannot be too much like You or have too much of Your holiness. Amen.
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January 7
Ambassadors for Christ F or read in g and me di tat ion Isaiah 6:1–13
‘With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”’ (v.7)
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oliness is, I believe, the first thing the Holy Spirit wants to impart to us as we set out on our personal spiritual journey, which brings us closer to God. Because God is holy we must be holy too. The deep desire to be rid of sin, and the eagerness to pursue holiness, is characteristic of all who long for a close relationship with God. It is evident that we are walking in holiness when we are no longer comfortable with sin. Sin becomes less attractive as we grow more attracted to God’s ways, which are far higher than ours. Holiness is a sign that we have been set apart by God for His purpose. If we are to be Christ’s ambassadors then our lives must be holy, otherwise we are misrepresenting Him.
Lord God, help me and teach me how to make holiness a way of life and truly represent Christ as His ambassador. Amen.
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