A Man Who Fears God

Devotion for Monday November 27, 2017

Topic: A Man Who Fears God

Text: Acts 10:1 – 2

The fear of God and living a righteous life are substances of true Christianity. Fear of God and works of righteousness are not the cause of a man’s acceptance before God, yet where these are found, whatever is lacking, God who started this act in man will in due time give to the person to actualize His work of grace. This is the truth about the man Cornelius (Acts 10:3 – 6). He was introduced here by his character; a devout man who fears God (Acts 10:1 – 2, 22), prayerful and compassionate (Acts 10:3 – 6), and obedient (Acts 10:7 – 8).

Cornelius was a centurion who commanded around one hundred (a century) soldiers. A regiment was a military unit of six hundred men. Cornelius was not a Jewish proselyte but he accepted the Jewish religion and revered their God (Acts 10:2). He was a devout man who fear God, a philanthropist and prayerful. This is very uncommon among leaders but he was very different. This prompted God to bring him to salvation.

What is your testimony and character? How can people describe you; a devout and sincere person or a fraud, a prostitute, a cheat, a betrayal, etc? What can be said about you in your office, neighbourhood, in your business, etc? Acts of charity, devout life in sincerity will always attract God’s favour and kindness towards us. Be more sincere in your walk with God and He will grant you all the salvation you need.

Food for Thought: How can people describe you?

Memory verse: Acts 10:2

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to live well and leave a good testimony for posterity in Jesus name.

Truly This Is The Son Of God

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Good Friday April 14, 2017

Topic: Truly This Is The Son Of God

Text: Matthew 27:50 – 61         

The events at the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ were pointers that He is truly the Son of God as the Centurion rightly observed in our text. The temple curtain tearing apart, the earthquake, the darkness, rocks splitting, etc, were not ordinary. God used it to show the world that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.

His death, therefore, could not have gone unnoticed. Everyone knew something significant had happened and one of them was the centurion who led the people to crucify Him. He acknowledged that truly Jesus is the Son of God. Luke’s account has it that the centurion attested that Jesus is a righteous man (Lk. 23:47). Jesus yielded His spirit to death because He had to fulfil the desires and will of the Father. He was submissive even unto death. This centurion confessed that Jesus was a righteous man and Son of God after seeing the miraculous signs which happened at His death.

Today, we commemorate His death which led to the forgiveness of our sins. Have you actually known Him as the Son of God? Have you accepted that ultimate sacrifice He made for humanity? It is of uttermost importance that we use this period to assess and re-examine our relationship with Christ. What we have heard and read about Him are enough for us to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. If we don’t do it now, a day will come when we must acknowledge that but then it will be too late. Now is the appropriate time for it. Accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

Food for Thought: What are the implications of Jesus death for Man?

Memory verse: Matthew 27 verse 54

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I acknowledge you now and always as my Lord and Saviour who died for me.

The Faith That Yields Miracles

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion for Wednesday January 11, 2017

Topic: The Faith That Yields Miracles

Text: Matthew 8:5 – 13    

There are some kinds of faith that God cannot resist. When God commanded Abraham to take his only son Isaac, who came at a very old age to sacrifice him, he obeyed God. He didn’t start to argue with Him. God saw that kind of faith that Abraham was very determined and had to stop him as he raised the knife to slaughter Isaac.

Another case was that of the centurion which we have in our text for the day. We can term him a heathen. He was a Roman soldier yet he was a godly man. That he was a soldier didn’t make him to undermine God hence the bible recorded that he was a godly man. We should understand that our call shouldn’t be an excuse for unbelief and sin.

This Centurion had concern for his servant and came to Jesus. We should have such concern for our children and wards especially in leading them to know and serve God. His response after Jesus had agreed to go with him is a proof that he has the fear of God. He didn’t allow obstacles to come in-between him and Jesus. He would have thought that Jesus will reject him because he was a Roman but that was not to be. He took a step and God honoured him. His faith even surpassed the faith of some children of Abraham in the assessment of Jesus.

This Roman officer could have let many obstacles stand between him and Jesus—pride, doubt, money, language, distance, time, self-sufficiency, power, race. But he didn’t. He demonstrated a faith that Jesus couldn’t refuse him. If he did not let these barriers block his approach to Jesus, we don’t need to let these barriers block us either.

What keeps you from Christ? Is it sin, wealth, you past, etc? Jesus is willing to meet our needs even as we read yesterday but do we believe in Him? Do we believe that His words alone can save and heal us? We have a lot to learn from this centurion. Faith in God’s word yields miracles.   

Food for Thought: What keeps you away from Christ?

Memory verse: Matthew 8 verse 13 – And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Prayer: Make my faith stronger, O Lord, my God that I will believe your words and not doubt them in Jesus name. Amen.