Category: Devotions

Across Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, because of money donated by you, we are able to help, rehabilitate, disciple and journey with those caught up in human exploitation. Please continue to pray for this work. In Uganda we are working with Life Ministries to help ex-child soldiers, in Congo we are partnered with Comfort Congo to provide medical care and small business enterprise to women who have been terribly abused, and in Cambodia, through the Be Free centre, we are helping women who were caught up in trafficking but who are now working towards an understanding of freedom in Christ. #befree http://elim.im/befree

Thankfully saved.

An old man is on the pier feeding the seagulls, they land all around him, on his shoulders, his hat, feeding off what he had in his bag. Why is this man doing this? Why does he come here every week?
The man is Eddie Rickenbacher, a famous pilot in World War 2. His plane the “Flying Fortress” was shot down in 1942 and no one thought he would be rescued. He and eight passengers survived in 2 rafts for 30 days. They fought thirst, the sun and sharks some of which were 9 feet long. But what nearly killed them was starvation, within 8 days they had no more food left.
But in these rafts they would have a daily devotion to God. One day after a devotion Rickenbacher leaned back with his hat over his eyes to get some sleep. Within a few moments he felt something land on his hat. He knew in an instant it was a seagull. They were hundreds of miles from land, where had it come from? In an instant he grabbed the seagull. They all ate the bird and the intestines they used as fish bait. Rickenbacher never forgot that sacrifice. Every week he went to the pier to feed the seagulls, to say thank you.

2 Corinthians 5: 14, Paul says “For Christ’s love compels us”. We have no choice but to bring thanksgiving, it comes from the sacrifice. His sacrifice of love forces such a response.
When you know you are saved you are thankful.

Lessons from a girl with no name
The last few days we have explored a very old story of a girl who was caught in a situation not of her own making but who grows from her place of discomfort to be very influential. This is the last lesson.
2 Kings 5: 1-14

3. My pain can influence a nation.
This girl, (probably no older than a teenager and experiencing her loss and grief of a family left behind) gives no indication of self-pity.
Like Joseph who knew that God intended it for good, Genesis 50:20 and the Apostle Paul “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” Romans 8: 28.
We have a choice. To either focus on the pain in how it inhibits or we see how the pain releases us to influence others.
This girl influences not only her mistress, but Naaman, his household, his King, the Syrian nation, King Jehoram and the Israelite nation.
She was God’s messenger and she influenced a nation. She would never have done that if she had not known pain.
How did this young girl begin to influence? The answer is by a single sentence of faith.
V3 If only ….
Jesus calls us the light of the world. We are light wherever we are. In the distress, pain and suffering we are the light, the influencer within darkness. You can change another person’s life. You can change the atmosphere of a room. You can influence to a level you would never have dreamed of. How? Because of your pain.
Are you teachable?
The hindrance to being taught is pain and yet the great lessons are held in pain.
Will pain torment or teach you?
Will you shrivel up or serve others?
Will pain inhibit or will it release you to influence?
The answer to those questions can be found in the answer to one question: are you teachable?

Lessons from a girl with no name
We are exploring a very old story of a girl who was caught in a situation not of her own making but who grows from her place of discomfort to be very influential.
2 Kings 5: 1-14

2b. My pain gives me the opportunity to serve people I would never have met, v2.
Will you shrivel or will you serve?
In her serving:
• The girl began to listen. She listened to the concerns and fears of her mistress. She heard about the brilliant man, how brave a soldier he was. She heard about his pain.
• The girl became involved. Some people die long before their death. They stop discovering. They no longer read, they don’t listen to music, they don’t look at nature, life is gone. Pain will give you the opportunity to engage yourself with people you have never met. When you do you will often get the opportunity to involve yourself in their life and maybe their world of pain. It happens because you are teachable.
• The girl served well. A poor employee is never listened to. To be teachable involves humility. Self-serving people never get out of their own way. They constantly stumble over themselves. They are locked into number 1. Every conversation they have is about their own pain. They are demanders of time, attention-seekers, they are high maintenance people. The greatest lesson in life that some never learn is only and always taught in pain and it is this: Life is never about you. Luke 22:26, “The greatest among you should be like the youngest and the one who rules like one who seeks.” Jesus said these words at his last meal with his disciples when pain was growing, he stooped down and began to wash feet. We should do the same.

Lessons from a girl with no name
Join us for a few days as we explore a very old story of a girl who was caught in a situation not of her own making but who grows from her place of discomfort to be very influential.
2 Kings 5: 1-14

2. My pain gives me the opportunity to serve people I would never have met, v2.
Why did Naaman’s wife listen to her? On being told what this slave girl had said, why did Naaman think it worth considering? How did this young Israelite girl become a trustworthy confidante?
It was because she was teachable in her painful circumstance.
Your response to pain will either be to shrivel up or to serve. How you respond is based upon how teachable you are.
Many of you will know the Peanuts cartoons full of Charlie Brown stories. One story has Charlie Brown at the beach building a magnificent sand castle. When he had completed it, he stands back and admires his masterpiece. Suddenly there is a down pour of rain and it flattens his brilliant structure. The last caption has Charlie Brown standing looking at levelled ground and saying, “There must be a lesson here, but I don’t know what it is.”
Nothing is ever pointless.
One of the questions so often asked is “Where is God in this pain and suffering?”
The question indicates the spiritual blindness of the person asking the question. God entered into this world as the suffering servant, born into a broken humanity, entered into sin yet sinless, took on death and brought resurrection life. Where is God? Open your eyes. Seek Him and you will find Him.
This pain seems like a curse that must be cast out! Whilst you must carry the faith to believe God can heal and deliver you from pain, you must also have wisdom to know that Jesus became the curse for us and His presence is so often at the centre of the gravest pain and suffering that you endure.
Will you shrivel or will you serve?

Lessons from a girl with no name
In the next few days we are going to explore a very old story of a girl who was caught in a situation not of her own making but who grows from her place of discomfort to be very influential.
2 Kings 5: 1-14

1. My pain will never determine my purpose.
V2 the girl had pain from being taken from her family and friends. She had pain from being in a place that was not worshipping God. There was also the pain of not having a future.
This insignificant girl could have been overwhelmed by pain. Her pain could have determined how she lived. Pain can torment or it can teach.
What is your pain teaching you? What is the lesson?
Romans 5:3 “We know that suffering produces perseverance”.
What is your pain?
Before rejecting it, ask what can it teach me?
Never allow your pain to set your pace and plot your cause. Why?
Because there is no guarantee that your pain will leave you.
This story would have been nice if the king of Aram had returned some captives including the slave girl instead of giving a monetary gift. But she stays in her pain. She may never have left Damascus. Your pain may never leave you. So are you going to let it dictate to you how you live, think, speak, what you do?
Or while you are in the middle of this pain, will you let the pain teach you? Will you let it re-shape you in the image of Christ and be ready to fulfil your purpose?
Show me someone who has known real physical pain and they will either be a person who is embittered or who has been taught true empathy for others.
I can show you someone who has known emotional pain and I can also show you that person is more loving and more understanding.
The pain does not have to determine your purpose in life.

6. Knowing why He came and why He didn’t

Mark 2: 17 Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

And finally …!
I have come to those in the valley of war.
I have come to those in the valley of past blessing.
I have come to those in the valley of giant-sized problems.
I have come to those in the valley of fear.
I have come to those who are locked in.
I have come to those with a stigma.
I have come to the disfigured.
I have come to those with no voice.
I have come to the nameless and faceless.
I have come to the lost and silent.
This is why I have come!

Find yourself in the lists from the last 6 days and know: This is why I have come and it is for you why I am here now!

5. Knowing why He came and why He didn’t

Mark 2: 17 Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Enough of why I didn’t come. Let me tell you more of why I did!
I have come to the beggar.
I have come to the crippled and the wounded.
I have come to those crying today.
I have come to those with no self-worth.
I have come to the insecure.
I have come to the suicidal.
I have come to those who have been dropped.
I have come to those traumatised by the accidents of life.
This is why I have come.

4. Knowing why He came and why He didn’t

Mark 2: 17 Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I have not come to the know-it-all Bible scholar.
I have not come to the look-at-me skilful orator.
I have not come to those with prejudice.
I have not come to those who look down on others.
I have not come to the stone-throwers of the guilty.
I have not come to those who entrap.
NO
I have come to those who need mercy.
I have come to those in prison.
I have come to those in exile.
I have come to those in ruin.
I have come to those who are destroyed.
I have come to those who are desecrated.
I have come to those who are abused.
This is why I have come.

3. Knowing why He came and why He didn’t

Mark 2: 17 Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I have not come for those too busy to ask for help.
I have not come for those who think they can make it on their own.
I have not come for those who want to be the greatest.
I have not come to look at money.
I have not come to look at your achievements.
I have not come to gaze at your obedient children.
I have not come to be entertained by your ministry.
I have not come to the professional cover-ups.
I have not come to the vain.
I have not come to the powerful.
NO
I have come to those trapped in slavery.
I have come to those who feel unworthy to be in Church.
I have come to the hurting.
I have come to those who are beating themselves up.
I have come to those troubled in heart.
I have come to those addicted to sin.
I have come to those who have not merited anything.
I have come to those who can only receive.
I have come to the incompetent.
I have come to those who need grace.
This is why I have come.