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Devotional For the Week—16 Oct 2006

Seek God and Live

Scriptural Text: Amos 5:1-8, 14,15

2007 is BMC’s Year of Missions. This means that in 2007, the focus of BMC pastors will be for us, the body of Christ, “to preach the good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to release from darkness the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and to comfort all who mourn (Is. 61: 1-2). With the launch of the Year of Missions, we are reminded that we should be convinced that we can make a difference. All of us are called to be ministers of Christ as the Great Commission is given to all believers. We know that God can use us to bring change as we share the gospel with others.

As ambassadors of Christ we have the Holy Spirit who prompts us to knock on doors and take the first step. The Spirit of God will enable us to love people so that we can be sensitive to their needs and sense that spirit of heaviness that exists in people who do not know Christ. The Spirit of God will also enable us preach the good news of salvation to the poor, remind of us of what we have learned so that we can share effectively with others, cause us to have compassion for those who are hurting and help the broken-hearted and grant us the ability to lift the spirits of those bound in sin, pointing them to Christ who is always able to set them free.

As Christians, not only do we have the privilege of having the indwelling Spirit of God, we also have Christ as our model. On this note, we can learn many lessons from the familiar story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.

• There were 13 people including Jesus who were passing through Samaria that day. 12 of the disciples (clearly all of them) decided to get food for the 13 of them. Only Jesus remained and He sat by Jacob’s well.
• After the disciples had left, a Samaritan woman went to the well to draw water. Jesus broke all cultural conventions by speaking to the Samaritan as she was a woman and a Samaritan on top of that. This behaviour was much to His disciples’ disapproval.

• However, because Jesus took the first step of speaking to the Samaritan woman and the opportunity of telling her about her sad past, the Samaritan woman was touched, convinced of Christ’ deity and eventually saved.

• In this one encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus not only saved her but transformed her whole city in just two days.

• Through one converted life (ie. the Samaritan woman) the whole city was turned ‘upside down’ in a good way. The whole city gained salvation in that short period of time! Remember the familiar song? It only takes a spark to get the fire going and soon all those around will warm up in its glowing

Application and Reflection: How will you be a vessel for Christ today? Whose need is the Holy Spirit prompting you to meet today/this week and how will you go about meeting it? What are you willing to set aside or forego in order to obey God’s direction today? What will you determine to do for the year 2007 in line with BMC’s aim to make 2007 the Year of Missions?

It was through a spark that an inferno was ignited. Do you want to see our church ‘burning’ for the Lord?

Prayer Response: Yes lord, here I am. Please enable me to have a heart for the unsaved, the courage the share the good news and a willingness to obey your calling, whether it is to reach out to someone in my home, my neighbourhood, my workplace, a complete stranger or even to leave for another country so as to serve you there. Help me to be a willing vessel for you and to trust you to equip me for your service. Please send me. Amen.

Devotional based on the message by Rev Rick Seaward

Find out more about Missions 2007 here.

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This Week's Devotional \| 2004 Devotionals \| 2005 Devotionals \| 2006 Devotionals Devotional For the Week—16 Oct 2006 Seek God and Live Scriptural Text: Amos 5:1-8, 14,15 2007 is BMC’s Year of Missions. This means that in 2007, the focus of BMC pastors will be for us, the body of Christ, “to preach the good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to release from darkness the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and to comfort all who mourn (Is. 61: 1-2). With the launch of the Year of Missions, we are reminded that we should be convinced that we can make a difference. All of us are called to be ministers of Christ as the Great Commission is given to all believers. We know that God can use us to bring change as we share the gospel with others. As ambassadors of Christ we have the Holy Spirit who prompts us to knock on doors and take the first step. The Spirit of God will enable us to love people so that we can be sensitive to their needs and sense that spirit of heaviness that exists in people who do not know Christ. The Spirit of God will also enable us preach the good news of salvation to the poor, remind of us of what we have learned so that we can share effectively with others, cause us to have compassion for those who are hurting and help the broken-hearted and grant us the ability to lift the spirits of those bound in sin, pointing them to Christ who is always able to set them free. As Christians, not only do we have the privilege of having the indwelling Spirit of God, we also have Christ as our model. On this note, we can learn many lessons from the familiar story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. • There were 13 people including Jesus who were passing through Samaria that day. 12 of the disciples (clearly all of them) decided to get food for the 13 of them. Only Jesus remained and He sat by Jacob’s well. • After the disciples had left, a Samaritan woman went to the well to draw water. Jesus broke all cultural conventions by speaking to the Samaritan as she was a woman and a Samaritan on top of that. This behaviour was much to His disciples’ disapproval. • However, because Jesus took the first step of speaking to the Samaritan woman and the opportunity of telling her about her sad past, the Samaritan woman was touched, convinced of Christ’ deity and eventually saved. • In this one encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus not only saved her but transformed her whole city in just two days. • Through one converted life (ie. the Samaritan woman) the whole city was turned ‘upside down’ in a good way. The whole city gained salvation in that short period of time! Remember the familiar song? It only takes a spark to get the fire going and soon all those around will warm up in its glowing Application and Reflection: How will you be a vessel for Christ today? Whose need is the Holy Spirit prompting you to meet today/this week and how will you go about meeting it? What are you willing to set aside or forego in order to obey God’s direction today? What will you determine to do for the year 2007 in line with BMC’s aim to make 2007 the Year of Missions? It was through a spark that an inferno was ignited. Do you want to see our church ‘burning’ for the Lord? Prayer Response: Yes lord, here I am. Please enable me to have a heart for the unsaved, the courage the share the good news and a willingness to obey your calling, whether it is to reach out to someone in my home, my neighbourhood, my workplace, a complete stranger or even to leave for another country so as to serve you there. Help me to be a willing vessel for you and to trust you to equip me for your service. Please send me. Amen. *Devotional based on the message by Rev Rick Seaward* Find out more about Missions 2007 here.
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