Camp Devotions “Get It Right With God!”
July 2nd, 2009Get It Right With God! Monday 27th July, 2009
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.” Matthew 6:9
Our devotions this week are based on Matthew 6:9-13. In these words we learn about communication with God.
Notice the words “Our Father“. These are words of relationship. God is our Father, because we have come to Him, by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. See John 1:11-13.
The Bible calls this being born again or being adopted into God’s family. God is addressed as Father. A good and loving father is one who cares for his children, provides, protects, loves, guides, teaches and trains them. Children will follow his example. They often walk and talk like him. His thoughts are concerning his children. The father gives his children his family name. These things are all true of our heavenly Father! We are to honor the Name of God. We are only to do, think or say those things that bring honor and glory to His name, our family name. But God is not just concerned about me and mine! He is also concerned about all of His other children in “our” family. The way we treat others shows our love and respect for the Father.
Four questions will be asked in our devotions each day.
1. What does this verse teach me about the nature and character of God? List at least four things. Praise God for who He is.
2. For what blessings should I give thanks? Make a list. Thank God for what He is doing and has done for us and others.
3. What sins does this verse reveal I need to confess? Name your sins to God. Confess your sins to God.
4. What help do I need from God to do His will? Ask for God’s help with your needs.
Pray. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.” Mt.6:9
Get It Right With God! Tuesday 28th July, 2009
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” vs. 10
A kingdom must have a king. In this case, it is the kingdom of Our Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The Father is Sovereign in His kingdom. Sovereign means having supreme rank, power, or authority.
Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Those who try to be king of their own life will find they are in rebellion against the rightful King. Jesus Christ is Lord. “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 Every kingdom or nation has its own laws. His kingdom has its royal law. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” James 2:8 The will of our Sovereign is revealed in His word. When we read the ten commandments or the sermon on the mount; we come to understand the nature of our Father and how we are to treat other people.
Prayer is about seeking the Father’s will! Too often, when we pray, it is about my will and my way. One day His kingdom will come and His will be done in earth. “We are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13 Just think of a new earth where His will is done! All the commandments are kept! Men love one another and live in peace. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev.22:20
1. What is the nature of our King? What does His law teach us about His character? All glory and praise to the King! Rev.5:12-14
2. What blessings come from being in His kingdom and living under the royal law? Thank God for making you part of His Kingdom.
3. What sins do I need to confess? Confess your rebellion and disobedience to your Sovereign”
4. What help do I need to be a loving and obedient subject in the kingdom of God? Father help me be an obedient subject in your kingdom.
Pray. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Get It Right With God! Wednesday 29th July, 2009
“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
Every good father provides for his children the things they need. So it is with Our Father! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father.” James 1:17 “The eyes of all look to You and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15,16
Notice, we are not just to pray for our needs. The words us and our remind us of others and their needs. For them we are also to pray. But Jesus is not just talking about physical bread and needs in this prayer. He is also talking about a daily relationship with the Bread of Life, Jesus. “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” Deut. 8:3 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:32-35
1. What does this verse teach us about the nature and character of God? Praise God for who He is.
2. For what blessings should I give thanks? Thank God daily for all His blessings.
3. What sins does this verse reveal I need to confess? Remember lack of trust and complaining are sin! Confess your sins to God.
4. What help do I need from God? Ask for God’s help with your needs.
Pray. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
Get It Right With God! Thursday 30th July, 2009
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
We think of Christ dying for our sins on the cross. “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” Luke 23:34 Our sins are many. A Just and Holy God must punish sin. But God in His love and mercy sent His Son to die in our place. We who have been forgiven all our sins; must forgive those who sin against us. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Eph.4:32 Forgive others the same way Christ forgives you. Total, complete forgiveness and He remembers the sin against us no more! We are never more like Christ than when we forgive someone who does not deserve to be forgiven.
1. What does this verse tell you about God’s holiness, justice, love and mercy? Praise God for who He is.
2. For what blessings should I give thanks? Thank God daily that your sins are forgiven by faith in Christ.
3. What sins does this verse reveal I need to confess? Remember to fail to forgive others is sin. Confess your sin to God.
4. What help do I need from God? Ask for God’s help and power to give and receive forgiveness.
Pray. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
Get It Right With God! Friday 31st July, 2009
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:” Matthew 6:13
We have a wonderful promise from God in 1 Cor. 10:13; “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” God does not tempt us with evil; He gives the power and the way to overcome temptation. Read James 1:12-16.
We can be delivered from the evil one and his evil. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5 We live in an evil day and temptations are all around us each day.
1. What does this verse teach me about the nature and character of God? Praise God for who He is.
2. For what blessings should I give thanks? Thank God for what He is doing and has done for us and others.
3. What sins does this verse reveal I need to confess? Name your sins and confess them to God.
4. What help do I need from God to do His will? Ask for God’s help with your needs. Oh how we need to pray! “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.