Saturday 7 April 2018

The Day Of Many Troubles

Devotion for Sunday April 8, 2018
Topic: The Day Of Many Troubles       
Text: Job 1:13 – 19 
After God had given Satan permission to tempt Job, he went and planned a serial attack on Job’s properties and family to happen in one day which would definitely bring Job to his knees and make him discredit God.  On that appointed day of trouble for Job, Satan unleashed his anger against him to make him turn against God and curse Him. He lost all his wealth, his children and properties. This was not even enough for Satan as he came back in Job chapter 2 to fight the more. When Job was being attacked, he never knew that it was his uprightness and integrity that attracted those troubles. 
Most times we tend to believe that when we pass through troubles of life, it means that we have fallen out of favour with God. It is not always true. The troubles came upon Job at once; while one messenger of evil tidings was speaking, another followed (Job 1:15, 16, 17 and 19). His dearest and most valuable possessions were his ten children; news came to Job in that same day that they had all been killed. So many people will conclude that such calamities can only come on sinners. This world offers nothing better than troubles, heartache and pain. But in all, we should be of good cheer (John 16:33) bearing in mind that God will make a way of escape for us (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Sing the hymn: When peace like a river attendeth my way - SS&S 901 Abu 191        
Food for Thought: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” – Job 14:1
Memory verse: Job 1:19
Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace and enable me to endure the troubles of life knowing that better things await me in heaven.

Friday 6 April 2018

Let Your Light So Shine

Devotion for Saturday April 7, 2018
Topic: Let Your Light So Shine
Text: Matthew 5:14 – 16                           
Light is very important in our existence here on earth. Have you ever imagined what life would be without light? To some of us in Nigeria, it may not mean anything because we are used to darkness but not someone in the Western World. Jesus Christ told His disciples that they are light of the world and should shine for people to see. Jesus later explained this in John 8:12.
Without darkness, we can’t know the importance of light. The basic truth in this is that as light dispels darkness and enables a man to see his way, so the Christian, by his teaching and exemplary life, removes ignorance and prejudice, and discloses the way of life to unbelievers. Christians reflecting the light of Christ is necessary so that its beauty and essence can’t be concealed. If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like.
These are some of the ways we can hide our light from shinning. (1) When we keep quiet while we ought to speak. (2) Going along with the crowd and not standing out for Christ. (3) Denying the light, (4) Allowing sin in our lives which dims our light, (5) Not explaining the source of our light to others and (6) Ignoring the needs of others.
Beloved, are you really light in your family, office, school, business and neighbourhood? What being light of the world implies is that we are expected to live lives of high morals to reflect our call as Christians. We should let the light of Christ we have received be seen in us otherwise we are either being selfish or deceitful.
Sing: Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray, Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning. Keep me burning till that brighter day.
Food for Thought: Is your light shining for people around you to see?
Memory verse: Matthew 5:14
Prayer: Use the song above to pray.

Add Flavour To Lives

Devotion for Friday April 6, 2018
Topic: Add Flavour To Lives
Text: Matthew 5:13 
Salt is a very common flavour that makes food tasty. This shows the importance of salt in seasoning foods. Jesus used the importance of salt in foods to teach us the importance of Christians in any society. Salt has multi functions. It adds flavour to food and is used as preservatives. By salt of the earth, Jesus posited that Christians are means of earth’s preservation through our prayers and exemplary Christian lifestyle.
Jesus compared Christians to salt because it is the nature of salt to preserve things from corruption and putrefaction, and to render them savoury and pleasant. In this respect, Christianity by the purity of its doctrine, should sweeten and purify sinners that they may become savoury to God and Man; and may be kept from being contaminated with errors and false doctrine. Again according to William Burkett, “Salt has a piercing power in it, which subdues the whole lump, and turns it into its own nature: such a piercing power is there in the ministry of the word, that it subdues the whole man to the obedience of itself.” In acting like salt, we are expected to add flavour to the lives of people around us.
Outside application of holy doctrine to preserve lives, we should let the world know the true essence of life and living. Some Christians live in such a way that unbelievers will never be motivated to go to church. We should let the world see peace, joy, happiness in our lives no matter the level of worldly afflictions and pains we may be going through. When we radiate life, it will make unbelievers to understand the true meaning of Christianity. Sing the hymn SS&S 798; Abu 239
Food for Thought: Are you adding flavour to the lives in your family and the society?
Memory verse: v 13
Prayer: Lord, may my life add flavour to people I meet daily in Jesus name


Thursday 5 April 2018

Faith And Confession Are Necessary in Salvation

Devotion for Thursday April 5, 2018
Topic: Faith And Confession Are Necessary in Salvation
Text: Romans 10:1 – 11
The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith as a result of not willing to open up for change. Their zeal was not enlightened, wise, or according to truth (Romans 10:2). Today, we have some people with great zeal in religion, and yet are blinded and hardened in sin. Right zeal is always found in accordance with truth and duty; holy in character and kind in spirit. The strictness of the law showed men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. It was based on this reason; Paul tried to point out that confession is necessary in salvation by grace which God has offered us in Christ (Romans 10:4ff). His position is “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9. He further expressed this truth in Romans 10:10. Two things are necessary for salvation; inward faith in Christ Jesus and public confession of that faith. Paul mentions them because both are necessary for salvation; the inward faith in Christ, and the outward confession of Him. It is based on the outward confession of sin that someone is baptized into the body of Christ. Some people often ask, “How do I become a Christian?” Romans 10:8 - 11 give us the answer: Salvation is as close as our lips and heart. People think that it is a complicated process, but it is not. If we believe in our heart and say with our mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved. Have you received salvation? If not, this is your opportunity.
Sing the hymn: SS&S 493; Abu 175.
Food for Thought: The basic proof of our Christian faith is to believe in Christ (inward faith) and our confession that Jesus is Lord (outward faith).
Memory verse: Romans 10:9
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I have confessed that Jesus is my Lord, help me to abide by it all the days of my life.

Tuesday 3 April 2018

He Revitalizes Our Mortal Body

Devotion for Wednesday April 4, 2018
Topic: He Revitalizes Our Mortal Body
Text: Romans 8:10 – 17
If the Holy Spirit be in us, invariably Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart of believers by faith. Christ’s Spirit lives within our human spirits. The presence of Christ in us will automatically make our bodies to resist and reject sin (Romans 8:10). Any Christian who receives the grace and Spirit of Christ, and continues to live under its influence a life of obedience to the Divine will, shall have a resurrection to eternal life (Romans 8:11).
The point Paul made here is that we are promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to us. So there is wonderful hope even for our prone-to-decay bodies. In another dimension, the presence of Holy Spirit resuscitates our physical bodies too and makes it alive. When the Spirit of God dwells in you, Satan and sickness will not have upper hand in your body.
Are you sick in the body and desire healing from God? Then you need to invite the Spirit of God into your life. You can start with praises for God dwells in the praises of His people. His presence will bring life to that withered hand and crippled legs in Jesus name.
Though you may be sick but as you are reading this devotion, God is saying to you, give me chance to come in now and you will see the difference. Give Him the opportunity to come into your life and revitalize everything that is dead.
Sing SS&S 89; Abu 253
Food for Thought: Life comes from the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 37:10)
Memory verse: Romans 8:11
Prayer: Release upon me O Lord, your Spirit to revive my dying body again in Jesus name.

Monday 2 April 2018

There Are Rewards For Sin

Devotion for Tuesday April 3, 2018
Topic: There Are Rewards For Sin
Text: Romans 6:12 – 23
After the admonition to walk in newness of life by Paul as we read yesterday, he went further to speak about the just reward for sin. By just reward, he means that punishment which is right for a sinner who continues to live in sin. He started by saying, “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (6:12). That was a conclusion of his exhortation in Romans 6:1 – 11. He gave this charge because of the consequences and reward for sin. Most people play with sin as if it has no consequence. If we are dead to sin, how can sin still control us? Christians ought to die to sin, but as long as they live in their mortal bodies, they will have the compulsion to sin. But it is expected that we should develop the willpower to no longer let it control us. Worthy of note is the question in Romans 6:15. Refusal to obey the law in pretence of being under grace and still living in sin is turning the grace of God into wantonness. We shouldn’t use our Christian liberty as an occasion to satisfy the desires of the flesh. This reward of sin is not just physical death; everyone dies physically, believers and nonbelievers alike. This refers to eternal separation from God in hell. This is the wage that a person receives for his or her rebellion against God. But instead of wages, those who believe receive a free gift from God, eternal life. Just as the laborer is worthy of his hire and feels it to be his due, so death is the due for sin, the wages the sinner has formed for himself. The good news is that God has offered us eternal life as a gift. Have you received yours?
Sing A&M 87; Abu 173
Food for Thought: Are you working for a wage or gift from God?
Memory verse: Romans 6:23
Prayer: God your gift for me is eternal life. Grant that I will not miss out in Jesus name.

Sunday 1 April 2018

Walk In Newness Of Life


Devotion for Monday April 2, 2018
Topic: Walk In Newness Of Life
Text: Romans 6:1 – 11
Yesterday was Easter, the resurrection of Jesus from death which gave us hope for eternal life. This is the reason Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” – 2 Corinthians 5:17. That new creation is the life that he talks about here in our bible reading for today. The newness of life starts at repentance. It is expected that believers must die to sin, and live to God (Romans 6:1, 2). Dying to sin is likened to death of Christ and living to God is likened to the resurrection of Christ. Our baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being as it were buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life. Those who believe in Christ are baptized into Him and into His death. In other words, they are baptized to become one with Christ Jesus. As he died, we die to our old, sinful lifestyle, and a new life begins. If we believe that our old, sinful lives are dead and buried, we should develop the motive to resist sin. We can consciously choose to treat the desires and temptations of the old nature as if they were dead. Then we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Jesus (see also Galatians 3:27; Colossians 3:1-4). Are you still under the influence of the old nature? Is sin still having upper hand in your life? Then you are not walking in newness of life. Sing A&M 169; Abu 9
Food for Thought: Are you living a new life of holiness as a Christian?
Memory verse: Romans 6:4
Prayer: Lord God, help me to walk in newness of life as one who has resurrected with Christ through my baptism.

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