Reckon Yourselves To Be Dead

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday April 20, 2017

Topic: Reckon Yourselves To Be Dead

Text: Romans 6:8 – 11

Yesterday, we saw that one of the implications of our baptism is that we are to die to sin and be alive unto righteousness. Apostle Paul therefore, advised the Romans and we the present readers by extension that we should reckon ourselves to be dead to sin. A dead man is in a state of numbness and inactivity. The body does not do anything and thus is not prone to sin. Such state of numbness makes it impossible to commit sin because in that state it is emotionless without feelings.

What this means is that we should regard our old sinful nature as dead and unresponsive to sin. If you strike a match and place it on a dead body, he will not feel the heat because the body is in numbness state. By considering ourselves dead to sin, Paul wants us to be like Christ in  dying to sin and living to God; living a new life of holiness devoted to God's glory, in imitating Christ's resurrection-life.

As people who are now identified with Christ, we should distant ourselves from the kind of life we were used to before we repented. We should no longer want to pursue our old plans, desires, and goals. Those desires must be put to death (Col. 3:5, 6). We should begin to live for the glory of God. This will be a battle between the flesh and the spirit. However, if you are willing and obedient, God will grant you the enabling grace through the power of the Holy Spirit who will help you become all that Christ wants you to be. Your salvation should produce “A change not of state and condition only, but of character and conduct. It leads a person to live not unto himself, but unto Him who died for him and rose again” as posited Family Bible Notes. Is it so in your life?  

Food for Thought: What positive change can be seen in your conduct and character as a Christian?

Memory verse: Romans 6:2 – Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Prayer: Lord God, help me to mortify my body so I can die to sin in Jesus name.

Christ Died For Our Sins

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday April 17, 2017

Topic: Christ Died For Our Sins

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 11

Our bible reading today can be likened to our statement of faith (The creed) because it contains the summary of what Jesus did to save humanity. Apostle Paul had to write this to allay the fears and doubts in the mind of some Corinthians because some people were teaching that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. He stated that many people saw Jesus after His resurrection at different occasions. He listed some of them to include Peter; the 12 disciples; over 500 disciples (some who were still alive at the time he wrote this epistle); James (the half-brother of Jesus) and finally Paul himself.

The centre of Paul’s message here is that Jesus died for our sins. This should be a source of joy for us above every other thing we can think of in this life. If we understand the consequences of sin and its burden, we will appreciate that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus every day of our lives. That Jesus resurrected is a historical fact.

We should not be discouraged when people doubt or deny Christ’s resurrection. Rather we should be filled with hope because a day will come when all of us shall see the proof on His return. However, on the interim, we should always be grateful to God for sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Have you accepted that ultimate sacrifice by making Him your Lord and Saviour? A time will come it will be too late. Come to the Saviour today and make no delay.

Food for Thought: As Christ died for our sins, how best can we appreciate this kind gesture of God towards us?

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15 verse 3

Prayer: Lord God, help me to appreciate your love for me in dying for my sins.

Be An Observable Model (In Your Faith)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 7, 2017

Topic: Be An Observable Model (In Your Faith)

Text: Acts 6:8 - And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.         

Stephen was one of the deacons (managers of food distribution) in the early church (Acts 6:5). In the early Church, one of the things required of those to do any kind of Christian service is that they should be filled with God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen distinguished himself. He was a wise servant (Acts 6:3), a miracle worker (Acts 6:8), and an evangelist (Acts 6:10).

Stephen is the first non-apostle to whom miracles are ascribed, as well as the first non-apostle whose sermon is recorded, in the book of Acts. Above all he is a man of faith and a typical of Christ in forgiving those who killed him. What a model for us Christians. It is unknown how long Stephen’s ministry continued before the events of this chapter and the next occurred, but he obviously had a powerful, visible, and influential ministry.

The life of Stephen is very challenging because of the faith he demonstrated. He was appointed to serve food but he used every opportunity he had to preach the gospel and probably mentor people that come to him. He didn’t decline preaching because he wasn’t an Apostle. He was very vast in the scriptures and traditions of the Patriarchs. When he was called to defend his faith, he stood his ground and wasn’t afraid of being martyred.

Looking at his life, in what area can you be compared with Stephen? Is it his faith, his service, his preaching, his belief in Christ Jesus, etc? Can you dare to be a Stephen in our generation, willing to die for the gospel? God is counting on you. Don’t disappoint Him. Show your faith and it will encourage someone in this Christian race. Surely you will be glad you did.

Food for Thought: “Faith is kept alive in us and gathers strength, more from practice than from speculations” - Addison in Power Bible CD.

Memory verse: Acts 6:8 - And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Prayer: God, grant me the kind of faith of Stephen so I will live an exemplary life for my generation and posterity in Jesus name. Amen.

SOW INTO THE SPIRIT

DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2016

Topic: SOW INTO THE SPIRIT       

Text: Galatians 6:5 – 8                        

Sowing and reaping is part of our life; physically and spiritually. We sow through the words of our mouth (our speech/utterance), through what we give and through what we plant. For us to actually benefit from our world and be useful to one another, we need to sow. Sowing is a way of maximizing our gifts and talents. It holds therefore, that we sow seeds, directly and indirectly. Again, it is also a natural law that whatever one sows, he reaps (Galatians 6:7).

Another interesting fact about the consequences of sowing is that we are known by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:16 & 20). What you sow as seed is what you will definitely get in returns. The life we live is like seed sowing. Some people sow to the flesh, the devil and the world while some others sow to the Spirit. Jesus taught us that where our treasure is there would our heart be also (Matthew 6:21).

Apostle Paul says in our text that flesh yields nothing but corruption. When you sow into the flesh, you will end up reaping greed, selfishness, etc. Its end effect would be destruction because such person can’t please God. His message here is very important for us in this present generation filled with greed and covetousness. How can someone sow to the flesh? See 1 Corinthians 10:6; compare Numbers 11:4 & 34. The flesh, lusts after material/worldly things (Genesis 3:6 & 1 John 2:16). Are these things manifesting in your life? Repent, before it will be too late. Remember what happened to people like Esau, Samson, Judas, etc.

We can sow to the spirit through self-denial (Matthew 10:24) and commitment to the advancement of God’s kingdom with the wealth God has bestowed on us. Can you mention other ways we can sow to the Spirit? Those who want to acquire heaven and earth without investing their wealth for the well-being of others are sowing to the flesh. There are benefits in pleasing God; obeying God and not our flesh. When we please God with our deeds, we are sowing seeds that we will certainly reap in righteousness.

Food for Thought: Sowing in the flesh is carnal indulgence that will end in moral ruin.

Memory verse: Galatians 6 verse 8

Prayer: God, grant me the enabling grace to sow in the spirit and not in the flesh so I will harvest eternal life in Jesus name. Amen.