WHEN YOUR WAY PLEASES GOD

DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2016

WHEN YOUR WAY PLEASES GOD            

Text: Proverbs 16:7                          

Have you ever wondered why people look up themselves on the mirror after dressing and want to go out? It is because we want people to like us and we can do anything possible to please them in order to win their approval. We wear make-up, perfume, good clothes and shoes, etc just to appeal to people. That is the extent we can go to get the approval of man. Unfortunately, the energy we channel towards trying to please men is not channeled towards pleasing God.

God requires us to channel all our energy and the resources at our disposal into pleasing Him for it is the only way to guarantee our peace with people including our enemies. How can we please the Lord? List some ways you can please the Lord in your study note for future references. Adam Clarke said something interesting about this our text. He asserts that “God is the guardian and defence of all that fear and love Him; and it is truly astonishing to see how wondrously God works in their behalf, raising them up friends, and turning their enemies into friends.” Isn’t this very interesting that God works in our favour and turning our enemies into our friends? This should make us to please Him the more with our lives, our time and our resources.  

Does it costs anything to please God and do you think you will lose in doing so?  Absolutely nothing and no loss! Rather, it comes with unspeakable blessings, which are uncommon. In 1 John 3:22, we have a reward for pleasing God. Again, Jesus Christ, our example said something challenging in John 8:29. Find out what He said in that bible passage. When any of our children do what is pleasing to us we can do anything for them. So it is with God. Remember the case of Herod who granted the desire of the daughter for dancing by beheading John the Baptist. If Herod can go to that level to please fellow human being, how much more God; who have heaven and earth at his disposal? Determine to please God from today and He will command love to flow from your enemies.

Food for Thought: Does it actually cost anything to please God? Think about it.

Memory verse: Proverbs 16 verse 7

Prayer: God, grant me the heart of obedience to your word so I can please you always in Jesus name.

YOU WON’T LACK ANYTHING GOOD

DEVOTION FOR MONDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2016

Topic: YOU WON’T LACK ANYTHING GOOD

Text: Psalm 34:1 – 10                        

There are some promises in the bible that we ought not to take or interpret literally. One of those promises is the topic of our devotion for the day – You Won’t Lack Anything Good. If we are to take it the way it is written, it means that Christians won’t lack anything good at all. But that is not the promise of God. Let us look at this Psalm 34: 1 – 10 and see why David posited that Christians won’t lack anything good. 

One of the things we are expected to do when we get to heaven is to praise God. Thus, it will not be out of place if we start now to praise Him all the time. This is the view of the Psalmist (Psalm 34:1) because of what the Lord has done for him. His boasting will be in the Lord (Psalm 34:2) as he is so confident about God because he sought Him and found Him (Psalm 34:4). God never said to anyone, “Seek ye me in vain – Isaiah 45:19 (compare Jeremiah 29:13). The good things David had received from God made him to call on us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). One of the results of trusting in the Lord is that they shall not lack any good thing.

God knows our needs, both physical and spiritual. Lack of any good thing is not a blanket promise that all we need, we will get because there are some Christians, who, daily face unbearable poverty but inwardly are nourished enough to live for God. What the Psalmist meant is that God is enough for us. He is all that we need and when we have Him, all other needs of this life become secondary. That is the reason behind Matt 6:33. When you think you have a need, ask yourself some questions; (a) Is it really a need? (b) Is it good for me? (c) Is it the best time for me to have it? (d) Can I maintain it if it is given to me? Even though your answer is all in the affirmative, God may not give you all so you will learn to trust Him and depend on Him.

Food for Thought: “God's providence is in favour of those that keep His laws and against those that break them” – Beecher

Memory verse: Psalm 34 verse 10

Prayer: God, grant me the understanding that you are enough for me.

WHEN GOD STEPS INTO OUR PROBLEM: Devotion for Sunday November 27, 2016

WHEN GOD STEPS INTO OUR PROBLEM: Devotion for Sunday November 27, 2016

Text: John 5:1 – 9                           Memory verse: John 5 verse 6

When God steps into our problems; all the things that were hitherto impossible will become possible. When He steps into our lives, we see visible change and turnaround. When He steps into our problem, all protocols and laws of nature will give way for Him to fulfill his purpose in our lives. This was the case of this man in our scriptural reading for the day.

This man at Pool of Bethesda whose name was not mentioned didn’t invite Jesus into his problem. Jesus stepped into it because of His compassionate disposition towards us as we read on Wednesday November 23. After 38 years, this man’s problem had become his way of life. No one had ever helped him. He had no hope of ever being healed and no desire to help himself. The man’s situation looked hopeless in the eyes of men but God who knows our needs knew that he needed help even though he couldn’t help himself.

The arrival of Jesus turned things around for a man who has no help. Jesus didn’t put him into the pool to be healed as others were healed in that place rather, He proved that He is far greater than the Pool and powers therein. The man received a supernatural healing from Jesus Christ. You can imagine the joy that will be in his heart as he was leaving that Pool. Those who gave up on him were disappointed. How will those who had wished him death see him coming back home? This is how God will disappoint and put to shame all your enemies who are wishing you death, failure, etc.  

Beloved in Christ, no matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let a problem or hardship cause you to lose hope. God may have special work for you to do in spite of your condition, or even because of it. Many have ministered effectively to hurting people because they have triumphed over their own hurts. All you need to do is to pray that God will locate you as He steps into that your sickness, trials, prison, marriage, business, studies and examination, etc. When He steps in, your level will definitely change for good.

Food for Thought: Jesus Christ is a game changer we need to make our lives more meaningful.

Prayer: My God, step into problems confronting me that there will be a change in Jesus name.

WHEN WE SHOW TRUE REPENTANCE: Devotion for Saturday November 26, 2016

WHEN WE SHOW TRUE REPENTANCE: Devotion for Saturday November 26, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 22:14 – 20               Memory verse: v19

When we read the word of God and it pricks our heart, we should repent and ask God what we should do. This was the case when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37). If there is any place to weep, it should be in the presence of God for He alone is the one that can help us and not Man. Man may sympathize but can never give you the needed help because he doesn’t have right over his affairs. Have you wept before man and failed to receive what you asked for? Never mind, with Jesus, it is a different case. He knows the necessities of our hearts, when we cry to Him; He saves us (Ps. 34:18). Josiah heard the word of God and it grieved his heart (compare Judges 10:15, 16). Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). How do you react when you hear the word of God? Does it prick your heart (Acts 2:37 & 7:54)?

Unfortunately, we are in a time where the word of God doesn’t touch the heart of many. The preachers are no longer preaching the raw and undiluted word of God. They preach what the congregation wants to hear. This is the reason we see people clapping hands when the word of God is coming forth instead of mourning for their sins. Most of us in this generation have hearts and consciences that have are dead.    

As a leader in the home, office, church, company, etc, how do you react to advice or correction? Does the action of Josiah challenge you? No matter how hardened our hearts may be, it must prick us when we hear the undiluted word of God (Heb 4:12). As you go to God with broken and contrite heart, He will hear and avert that evil He intended (Ps. 51:7). Josiah’s repentance saved him from dying in the war. Though he was wounded in war according to the warnings of the book but he didn’t die there. It would have been worse if not that he repented. 

Food for Thought: Mourning and weeping makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.

Prayer: Lord, grant me true repentance as I hear your voice so I will not die in this battle for eternal life in Jesus name.

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 22:11 – 13          Memory verse: 2 Kings 22 verse 11

King Josiah sent message through Shaphan the scribe to Hilkiah the high priest. Shaphan returned words to the king about the book of the Law Hilkiah found (2 Kings 22:8). Shaphan read it to the hearing of the king (2 Kings 22:10). On hearing the words of God written in the book of the Law, Josiah knew that he and his people were in danger of God’s wrath, condemnation and judgment. He tore his clothes on account of the judgments denounced in the law against the people; and to which they were exposed to on account of their idolatry (2 Kings 22:13).

He sent people to inquire of the Lord for him, and for his people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against them, because their fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all that, which is written concerning them.

The word of God King Josiah heard started burning in him because he opened his heart to receive it. He didn’t give halfhearted attention to it as some of us do. These words that moved King Josiah unto godly repentance may not move some other persons to even blink an eye. This shows that the effect of the world of God on us depends on how we pay attention to it and how we accept it. If we accept the word of God wholeheartedly, it will yield abundant result of righteousness and fruitfulness for us. 

The word of God is quick and powerful (Heb. 4:12). When we read it with open heart to hear from God, take instruction and gain wisdom, it will surely prick our heart if we have been living in sin. The word of God, whether of law or grace, whether of promise or threatening, imparts to it, His own divine power. It lays open every heart, and detects all hypocrisy and unbelief. This is what the word did in heart of Josiah. Are you living a life of unbelief, hypocrisy and sin? You should yield your heart to God, allowing him to reveal your sin and thereafter repent of them. Are you ready to do that?

Food for Thought: Jeremiah 23:29

Prayer: Lord, empower your word as I read it so that it will bring out in me godly sorrow which brings repentance in Jesus name.

JESUS CHRIST’S HUMILITY: Devotion for Thursday November 24, 2016

JESUS CHRIST’S HUMILITY: Devotion for Thursday November 24, 2016

Text: John 6:14 – 15            Memory verse: John 6 verse 15

Humility, Jesus Christ, Leader, Model, King, Crown, Devotion, Life, Foundation, 

Anyone who is a leader, a minister of the gospel or even a believer is looked up to for true and thorough modeling. If they don’t see anything to model from your life, then that person’s ministry or leadership is in vain. You must be willing at all times to offer your followers something they will appreciate and value especially, in your attitude and character.

Yesterday, we read about Jesus Christ’s compassion. Today, we have in our text, His humility. The people associated Jesus (John 6:14) with the prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:15. But their assumption was that the promised prophet would break Roman rule over Israel as Moses had broken Egypt’s (John 1:21; cf. Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22 and 7:37).

Jesus withdrew from the crowd because they had missed the point and not to have accepted Him on His terms. The crowd had intended to force Him to become king. He knew that this offer of kingship was superficial, motivated by a desire for bread rather than as a result of true recognition of His person. They wanted bread for physical life and independence for political life. But Jesus offered Himself as the foundation for a new spiritual and eternal life.

Though He escaped, they went after Him. This is because He has so much to offer the people both physically and spiritually. What have you to offer people who come to you first as a Christian and secondly as a Pastor. If you have something to offer, whether you are on the mountain, in the cave or desert, they will come there. Remember the case of John the Baptist. They came to the wilderness to meet him. We should always ask God for such humble and compassionate spirit to steer clear of worldliness in our Christian race. It will help us so much to live out our Christian faith in our perverse generation. People should see Christ in us especially the unbelievers because we are the bible they read. If Christ is not seen in us, no matter how much time we spend in preaching, it will not bear the needed fruits. Therefore, let your life of humility show others Christ in you.

Food for Thought: True humility is intelligent self-respect that keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves.

Prayer: Lord God, make me humble enough so that I will not be seen but Christ will only be seen in me.

CHRIST’S COMPASSION: Devotion for Wednesday November 23, 2016

CHRIST’S COMPASSION: Devotion for Wednesday November 23, 2016

Text: John 6:1 – 13        Memory verse: John 6 verse 5

For the devotion today and tomorrow, we shall be looking at two characters of Jesus Christ worthy of emulation. Today’s devotion centers on Jesus Christ’s compassion spirit. Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:35; 8:2 Luke 9:12 all speak about the compassion Jesus Christ had on the multitude that came to Him. In the bible story in Mark 8:1–9 Jesus Christ openly confessed His compassion for the multitude (Mark 8:2 & 3). Even though that crowd came on their own accord to hear Him, He didn’t leave them to go without food.

Jesus knows the need of the people and He shows concern. The curious throng was not that easily dissuaded, for they followed Him even to His secluded hideaway (John 6:5). Instead of repelling the people angrily for their invasion of His privacy, Jesus Christ first healed the sick among them as the version of this story in Matthew 14:13, 14 have it. Thereafter, He turned to Philip with the compassionate words, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

What Jesus Christ did here is a great lesson for pastors and ministers of the gospel. Occasionally, we should look out for some of our parishioners that lack some basic necessities of life and see how we can help out. It may be through getting other wealthy members to help out as Jesus Christ did by using what belongs to the young boy to meet the needs of the multitude.

What problem are you passing through in a time like this? You may have been sick for years like that man at pool of Bethesda, imprisoned for years without cause and abandoned, living without food, lacks some basic necessities of life, etc. You may be thinking that God is not aware of your problems.  Do you ever feel that God is so busy with important concerns that He can’t possibly be aware of your needs? Just as Jesus was concerned about these people’s need for food, so He is concerned about our daily needs – food, clothing, housing, money, etc. Jesus knows and cares. Remember that He warned us in Matthew 6:31 and 32 that we shouldn’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing because our heavenly Father already knows all our needs. Go to Him today and certainly, He will meet your needs.    

Food for Thought: Without a compassionate heart you can never be a true Christian.

Prayer: Grant me your kind of compassionate heart, O Lord, so I will live out my life as a true Christian in Jesus name.