When Amazing God Acts Amazingly

Devotion for Saturday November 14, 2017

Topic: When The Amazing God Acts Amazingly

Text: Act 12:1 – 17

When God intervenes in some precarious cases, it leaves us speechless, amazed, astonished and perplexed. Our text for the day speaks of amazing act of God in delivering Peter from the prison despite the guards and the gates. God sent his angel who came and struck him amidst soldiers and the chain with which they chained him to two soldiers fell off. The angel led him through first and second posts (gates) through the iron post heavily manned by armed soldiers but the gates all opened on their own accord (Acts 12:7 – 17). It was after they had passed through all the gates that Peter came to himself and realised that it was not a dream.

Meanwhile, prayers were being offered for him (Acts 12:5). When Peter arrived at the gate of the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, Rhoda didn’t open the gate out of joy when she saw that it was Peter knocking at the gate. Rather, she ran in to announce what she saw and she was accused of not being herself. They had regarded his rescue as so difficult and where hopeless. Yet they were praying for his release. This is how some of us behave. We keep praying without believing that God can give us what we are praying for.

Sometimes, it is difficult for us to believe the answer to our prayers, even when God said He is more ready to answer us. Yet when He does that which we had asked for, we will be astonished. This made the people praying to say that Rhoda was mad. We shouldn’t be overwhelmed and astonished when our petitions are granted, and when God manifests His power in His own way and time. That is a sign of little faith or faithlessness. We should grow to the level of believing God for His word. With God all things are possible. As we do not know what time God will act for us, we should be what we pray for because He will surely answer our sincere prayers (James 1:6 – 8).

Food for Thought: Matthew 11:24

Memory verse: Acts 12:15

Prayer: Lord God, strengthen my faith so that I will not doubt your ability to do what I ask for in prayer.

They Found Favour With All Men

Devotion for Wednesday August 2, 2017

Topic: They Found Favour With All Men

Text: Acts 2:42 – 47

Being in favour with all men is only possible when you are at peace and favour with God. It is when you do the things that are pleasing to God that He will begin to make men to like you and extend favour to you. From Acts 2:42 – 47, we have reasons why the early church had favour with all men. Use the reasons and compare them with your local church to see if there are differences. The early church did what was pleasing to God in everything. They started by being submissive to the instructions of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:4 – 5). They obeyed and the result was the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Act 2:1ff). Again, they had things in common, were studying, breaking bread and praying together. All these granted them favour before God and with all the people. This resulted in what we have in Acts 2:47b.

When Christians manifest sincerity and show commitment to the things of God by being united in affection and efforts, the result will be prosperity of the church as people that repent will join the church. The church should be joyful in the Lord and striving always to do good as they have the opportunity to do so to all men. Are you at favour with people in your neighbourhood and can they follow you to your church because of your character? Remember that religion without character ends in hell fire. Therefore, be the light God called you to be (Matthew 5:14 – 16).

Food for Thought: “Unless there are people who are responding to the love of God as revealed in Christ and so are worshiping Him, the Church is not very important.” – Blake

Memory verse: Act 2:47

Prayer: Help me my Lord and my God, to live well and be at peace with all people within my neighbourhood and others I meet on daily basis in Jesus name. Amen. 

The Uniqueness Of Jesus

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday March 22, 2017

Topic: The Uniqueness Of Jesus

Text: Acts 4:5 – 12  

Sometimes, do you wonder why the Pharisees and Sadducees were always picking at Jesus and His disciples even when there are no obvious reasons for such? How can they quarrel with the disciples over the healing of a man born lame instead of being happy and returning the glory to God? The reason for this kind of behaviour is nothing but selfishness and envy or else what would have instigated such action? However, thanks to God for the boldness and authority of the disciples.

Peter used that opportunity to rebuke their hypocrisy, hatred and wickedness against Jesus Christ. He listed what made Jesus unique. Christ was the rejected stone which turned out to be the cornerstone. Peter asserted that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. All these things mention in Acts 4:10 – 12 by Peter made Christ unique.

There are two kinds of courage: reckless courage, knowing the danger, faces it without knowing the consequences and the fearless courage that knows the peril and yet is undaunted. Peter’s boldness is of the latter as he was bold to challenge these men. We should be bold to speak out for Jesus Christ not minding the consequences because of His uniqueness. He even charged us to risk our lives for Him (Matthew 10:39; 16:25). If Jesus Christ in His uniqueness died for us, what will be too much to offer Him? We should show the world the uniqueness of Jesus Christ by living His life. This will make the world to appreciate that He is unique indeed.

Food for Thought: 2 Timothy 2:5 – 6

Memory verse: Acts 4 verse 12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Prayer: Lord God, let the words of my mouth and the life I live show the world the uniqueness of Christ.