Our Integrity Gives Credence To Our Christianity

Devotion for Saturday May 19, 2018

Topic: Our Integrity Gives Credence To Our Christianity

Text: Matthew 7: 15 – 20 

One thing that prevents men from choosing the strait and narrow way that leads to heaven is false doctrine that guarantees them freedom to live the way they want so they can fulfill their lustful desires. Today, there are many people who believe that the teachings of Paul, Peter, John, and other parts of the bible against homosexuals were wrong. Some of these false prophets brought the gay movement into the Church of God. This is the reason behind the warning Jesus gave in Matthew 7:15. You will know these false teachers by the way they drift from one position to another on doctrinal issues and the effects of their doctrines on morality. We cannot know the nature of a man until his fruits (his deeds) starts manifesting. Therefore, the way to detect false prophets is by their deeds. A person’s speech will not always correspond to his true nature (Matthew 7:21). Good teachers consistently exhibit good behaviour, integrity and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. When Jesus spoke about bad trees, he meant teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers’ motives, the direction they are taking, and the results they are seeking. Those who should not be teaching will be recognizable by their fruits. As Christians, we are teachers of the Bible by our words and action. Do we show integrity in all we do? If we do, that will give credence to our confession of faith. Let us be known for integrity and not for falsehood and deceits.

Sing SS&S 601

Food for Thought: Matthew 3:10

Memory verse: Matthew 7:20

Prayer: My God and my Father, help me to develop virtue of integrity in my words and action before you and men in Jesus name.

Devotion for Wednesday March 7, 2018

Topic: We Are Sojourners On Earth

Text: 1 Peter 2:11 – 12                           

Our behaviour as Christians matters so much for so many reasons. It is the bible some people may have the only opportunity to read. It shows the level of our Christianity and it can make or mar our Christianity too. For these reasons it is very important Christians should be mindful of their behaviour. Peter gives a reason why we ought to live holy, that is, because we are citizens of heaven and only sojourners here. Therefore, we ought to live not according to the laws of this world, which is most corrupt, but of the heavenly city, although we are strangers here. As Peter posited, lust can be habitual or actual. By habitual lust, it means an aversion to everything that is good, and a proneness to all evil. Actual lust are those conversant about sensual and fleshly objects. Holiness is a necessity for our seeing God and should not be compromised because the city we are hoping for doesn’t accommodate lustful souls. This admonition is very apt judging from the level of evil, vices, corruption of our time and the rate at which Christians fall off the faith presently. Behaviour is contagious and we are prone to easily copy evil more than good. Our conduct must be honest among Christians and also unbelievers (1 Peter 3:16). This is one way we can shine as light (Matthew 5:16 see Philippians 2:15). Our behaviour includes words of our mouth, thought of our hearts, our appearance and the way we react to people. Is your behaviour Christ-like?

Sing A&M 370; SS&S 252; Abu 150

Food for Thought: Philippians 2:14 – 15     

Memory verse:  1 Peter 2:12

Prayer: Lord, make my conduct conformable to yours in Jesus name.

Don’t Copy World’s Standard

Devotion for Wednesday November 22, 2017

Topic: Don’t Copy World’s Standard

Text: Roman 12:1 – 2

Our world of today lacks genius. What we have today are pirated works. People are no longer genuine in production of anything especially in this part of the world. Everyone toes the same way of doing thing even in the church. No one wants to be original. These have robbed us of growth and self-actualization. When we find ourselves in the midst of other people, there is always the tendency to copy what they do and we easily forget that “Evil company corrupts good habits” – 1 Corinthians 15:33. On the other hand, good company also model good habits. This informs Paul’s words in our bible reading for today. He urged the Roman Christians no to conform to the standard of this world; to its sinful spirit, maxims, principles and practices of this world.

On the contrary, Christians should walk singularly and not after the world’s guise. Do you copy unnecessary behaviour, dressings, character, speech, etc., because it is in vogue? Who brought it in vogue – God, man or Satan? Think of the present day style of fashion and dressing. Most of them are ungodly. We should be led by the Spirit as Christians and not by what is in vogue. We should also learn to do things according to the will of God and not the propelling of self. This is a challenge if we hope to make heaven.

Food for Thought: Ephesians 5:17

Memory verse: 1 John 2:15

Prayer: Lord God, help me not to conform to the word’s standard as you renew me through your word.

Contrary Behaviour

Devotion for Monday October 30, 2017

Topic: Contrary Behaviour

Text: Titus 1:15 – 16

Contrary means conflicting, opposite, obstructing or hindering progress. Anything we say or do that is opposite of what is ideal can be termed contrary behaviour. In the days of Paul and Titus, there were some false teachers of the word of God even as we have them today. These teachers of Jewish fables and carnal ordinances profess to know and serve God, yet their immoral lives are evidence of denial of Him. Thus they became abominable both to God and man, disobedient to the law and averse to every god work. See Romans 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:5, 8 and Jude 1:4.

Our text for the day teaches us that hypocrites are generally great professors of faith; they profess great knowledge of God and great zeal for Him. Again, our bible reading teaches us that to deny God is a very heinous sin and an abominable wickedness. However, there are some people who are genuinely zealous.

We deny God in two ways: first, in our words and secondly in our actions. Is your behaviour contrary to your profession of Christian faith? Contrary behaviour manifests when we are still living in sin but seriously active in the church. Such person is a deceit and hypocrite. If you belong to that group, turn away from such behaviour (2 Timothy 3:5) because you will be disappointed on the last day. If you have been following such teachers/people whose lives are contrary to the gospel message they preach, turn away from them because they will lead you astray in this Christian race.

Food for Thought: Live well as a Christian because you may be the bible you unbelieving neighbour will have the opportunity to read.

Memory verse: 2 Timothy 3:5

Prayer: Help me O Lord my God, to remove any contrary behaviour in my life

WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:8 – 11                       

Memory verse: Colossians 3:8 - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

There is one striking point to note in the ways to redirect our focus on Christ in our bible reading of yesterday and today. It is the point that you are the one to put them to death/put off and not any other person. In our bible reading of the day, Apostle Paul was emphatic about this. He said, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these …” These things are part of our old nature which sure raises their heads in us. That is why our text called them our members.

Though these sins mentioned in Colossians 3:8 are of less infamy (minoris infamia) and reproach before men, yet they are of greater guilt (majoris reatus) in the sight of God. Thus any sincere Christian who desire to please God will not hesitate in putting off these sins so as to have a clear focus on Christ. As long as they are part of us, they will keep on pulling us down.  

The five sins of speech/action here are anger, wrath (rage), malicious behaviour, slander (blasphemy) and dirty language. When these are manifest in our lives, they offend the spirit of God in us. Paul concluded by calling on us to put on the new man after putting off the five sins mentioned above. Putting on new man means that our conduct should match our faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like it. To be a Christian means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions.

Food for Thought: Have you put off anger, wrath, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language from your life?

Prayer: God, help me to put off old nature and to put on the new man that reveals Christ in me.