It’s my turn to provide the devotions at our band practice tonight, so I thought I’d share will you what I will be sharing with the band tonight…
I don’t know about you, but I always feel my turn to do the devotions seems to come round extra quick. So me being the organised person I am, I did my usual and checked back to see firstly when I last was responsible for the devotions and secondly what I spoke about. I was surprised to find that it is almost a year to the day since I last did the devotions!
I usually find when I’m preparing these kinds of things that my thoughts are all over the place with lots of things coming into my mind but nothing feeling quite right until the very last minute. This time however, having realised it was almost a year exactly since I last did the devotions for the practice, it really set off my train of thought around “looking back” and “memories”.
Over this last year, and particular these last couple of weeks, I’ve found myself thinking about precious moments spent with family who are no longer with here or looking back at countless things which I’d long ago forgotten about but a photo or item has triggered a memory.
People often say we shouldn’t look back because it’s in the past and we can’t change it, but what about all those precious moments we’d never recall or recount to others if we simply put them to one side and never think about them?
Where would that leave our faith if we never looked back?
What about the cross and what it stands for? Surely as Christians we must never forget the cross, in other words we need to look back and remember the reason Christ died on the cross for us?
In looking back at the cross it should give us inspiration for the future, knowing that if we keep our focus on Him we have fulfilled his plans for us.
Why shouldn’t we look back, as if we don’t, how will we remind ourselves how much of a sacrifice God gave for us at Calvary?
Without the cross where would we be?
Without the cross would we have any future?
Lots of questions which I asked of myself, and this in turn made me think of various people in my family who are no longer with us, but who trusted God and remained faithful to Him right to the end. This in turn reminded me of song which really sums us their faith and my hope for the future:
O Jesus I have promised
To serve thee to the end
Be thou forever near me
My Master and my friend
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.
Each of us here have made promises to serve God all our lives. Tonight I challenge you to always remember the cross, Remember why we’re here in Bellshill serving God as part of this band, keep focused on the cross, and serving Him until the end?
Let me leave the words of 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) with you:
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
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