God Released Her by Grace: Devotion for Thursday January 2, 2020

Devotion for Thursday January 2, 2020 

                    

Topic: God Released Her by Grace               

Text: John 8:1 – 11

When Jesus invited someone without sin to throw the first stone on this woman, the leaders slipped away one by one, from oldest to youngest. “Evidently the older men were more aware of their sins than the younger. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness. 

We all have a sinful nature and are desperately in need of forgiveness and transformation” so says Life Application Commentary. None of us would have been able to throw the first stone because we cannot claim that we have no sin. We would have also walked away. 

Actually no one could claim he or she is sinless so as to stone this woman. Jesus had exposed their hypocrisy and embarrassed them. 

They went back in shame to think of some other ways to trap Jesus. No one had accused the woman and Jesus kindly said to He would not condemn her either. 

Thus she was released from death by grace. She was not simply free to go her way. Jesus didn’t free her from the Pharisees, He want to free her from her sin, so he added, “Go and sin no more.” 

Jesus didn’t condemn her, but neither did he ignore or condone her behavior. Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin. 

As we have been graciously brought into this New Year, we should not abuse the grace of God. He brought us into the New Year because He expects a change in us. Don’t think you deserve to be alive; it is by God’s grace. 

Live in gratitude like this woman having received God’s grace to enter into this year.

Food for Thought: How grateful are you to God for the grace to see this year?

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Lord I am alive by your grace. Help me to live my life in gratitude for this singular honour.

Is Your Marriage Honourable?

Devotion for Wednesday June 6, 2018

Sing A&M 463; Abu 132

Topic: Is Your Marriage Honourable?         

Text: Hebrew 13:4  

The first 3 verses of this chapter stipulate what the social life and responsibilities of Christians should be. It went further to give command on private lives too (v4). Christian couples have the responsibility to give honour to their marriage, and remain faithful to one another in it due to the vows they made before God. This would include promises to continually love one another mutually, to remain faithful in thought, attitude, and action, and to support and provide for each other. Hebrews shows how best to do these – we should stay away from immoral behavior and adultery. Immorality and adultery have split marriages for thousands of years. God’s commands against immorality (given for people’s own good) have been in place for a very long time now (see Exodus 20:14, 17; Job 24:15-24; Proverbs 5:15-23). Christians are to maintain high standards (Matthew 5:27-28). Marriage being honourable means being right, proper, and for ministers of the gospel as well as others. As marriage is God's institution for the happiness of man and the prevention of fornication and other abominable vices, he who forbids or discourages it increases the temptations to fornication, and exposes himself to the just indignation of God. Hebrews makes the point that even if no consequences are seen right away, promiscuous people will incur God’s wrath and He will surely judge them.

Food for Thought: How faithful are you in your marriage?

Memory verse: 13:4

Prayer: Pray for all couples that they will remain faithful in their marriages especially those whose marriages are having problems.

WHEN GOD SEEMS INCONSIDERATE: Devotion for Sunday April 10, 2016

WHEN GOD SEEMS INCONSIDERATE: Devotion for Sunday April 10, 2016         

Text: Isaiah 59:1 – 8    Memory verse: v 2

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary states that, “If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying.” This is one reason why we can say that God seem to be inconsiderate to us and our needs. Another thing is sin. Here the prophet highlighted it consequences especially in our relationship with God. It separates us from God and makes His ears to be heavy towards our prayers. Its consequences are exceedingly hurtful, separating us from God, and all good God has in plan for us. The prophet went further to enumerate the consequences of sin in 59:9ff.

Many a time, we accuse God of being inconsiderate to our needs and prayers even when we are living in sin. God cannot change His standard because of you. He hates sins and it can turn His ears away from our prayers. How can God answer you when you are living in bitterness? How can He answer when you are hoarding anger and grudges? It cannot work. It is not only when we have killed or committed adultery/fornication that we have sinned. Little foxes like bitterness, anger, hatred, malice, lies will ever continue to make God inconsiderate to our needs until we repent of them. Kill the little foxes now before it will be too late.

Food for Thought: God is never inconsiderate to us. We are the ones who sent Him away by accommodating sins in our lives.

Prayer: God, grant me the grace not to accommodate sins in my life that will make your ears heavy towards my prayers.