Virtues That Promote Brotherliness: Devotion for Monday August 31, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday August 31, 2020

Topic:  Virtues That Promote Brotherliness          

Text: Colossians 3:12 – 17                  

In our text for today, Paul continued to reveal what a new man in Christ should be and the things that will promote brotherliness among Christians and how to live for God. All the virtues that Paul encourages us to develop (to put on) are perfectly bound together by love.

As we clothe ourselves with these virtues, the last garment we are to put on is love, which holds all of the others in place. To practice any list of virtues without practicing love will lead to distortion, fragmentation, and stagnation (1 Corinthians 13:3).

He also offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day. They are (1) Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude (Colossians 3:12 – 13); (2) let love guide your life (Colossians 3:14); (3) let the peace of Christ rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15); (4) always be thankful (3:15); (5) keep God’s Word in you at all times (Colossians 3:16); (6) live as Jesus Christ’s representative (Colossians 3:17). These are ways to live well and for God. Love binds together all the other graces into one whole and thus making the Christian character complete.

Are these virtues evident in your life? If not, how do you intend to inculcate them into your life so that Christ will be seen in you?

Food for Thought: All the Christian graces are bound together in love. It is the source of them all.

Memory verse: Colossians 3 v 14

Prayer: Almighty God, sow in my heart the virtue of love for you and humanity which is the root for all other Christian virtues.

Those Who Belong to Christ: Devotion for Wednesday June 24, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday June 24, 2020

Topic: Those Who Belong To Christ                      

Text: Galatians 5:24 – 26                          

There are things that exemplify a Christian and make such fellow peculiar or distinct. They are the fruit of the Holy Spirit we read about yesterday. Any professing Christian who doesn’t possess these virtues is mere compromising and should not be taken seriously.

How can a Christian lack love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? If any of these is lacking in your life, then you have either backslidden or you have been compromising. Those who have these are those who actually and really belong to Christ according to Paul in Galatians 5:24.

Those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh when they became Christians (Romans 6:3, 4), and it is done continuously (Romans 6:6) so that the Holy Spirit will be able to produce in them the fruits just listed (Galatians 5:22, 23). It is by faith in Christ that a man becomes dead to a sinful life and rises to a new life of fellowship with Christ (Colossians 3:3).

Brethren, if our inner life be in the Spirit; that is, received from the Spirit, sustained by him, and conformed to him in character then we should also walk in that Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

Our outward life also should be in the Spirit; in other words, let it be conformed to Christ in character, so that our inward principles and outward conduct shall be in harmony with each other. This, in Paul’s opinion is what it means to belong to Christ. Is your inward and outward life in harmony with that of Christ? Think about it.

Food for Thought: Do you truly belong to Christ in your character?                                             

Memory verse: Galatians 5:24                                                                             

Prayer: Lord, help me to conform to the image of Christ in my inward and outward character in Jesus name.  

They Found Favour with All Men: Devotion for Friday August 2, 2019

Devotion for Friday August 2, 2019

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. This is so because men are hard to please. 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 worshipping 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.     

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.

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.

Those Who Bear The Name Of The Lord

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday July 5, 2017

Topic: Those Who Bear The Name Of The Lord

Bearing the name of the Christ is the highest privilege God has conferred on us. Moses told the Israelites that God requires total and absolute obedience from them for that is the way His promises of blessings will come upon and overtake them. When these blessings start manifesting in their lives, people will know that they bear the name of the Lord. It will show that they are most excellent and glorious people, under the peculiar care and countenance of a great God.

This promise is not only for the old Israel but also for the New Israel. We stand to gain so many things as those who bear the name of the Lord They are enumerated in Deuteronomy 28:2 – 14 which include people becoming afraid of us (see Deuteronomy 11:25). Another thing we stand to gain as people who bear the name of God is that we have the right to call on God to intervene on our behalf when the enemies confront us. As people who bear the name of the Lord, we have the right to call on God any moment and He will answer us (2 Chronicles 7:14).

However, we shouldn’t forget that it is not just bearing the name of God alone but that there are conditions attached to these blessings. The primary condition is in Deuteronomy 28:1 and 2. Obedience to God’s injunctions is necessary for our own food and blessings. We who bear the name of God should be exemplary in exhibiting the character of Christ so that people around us will see God’s glory manifesting in us. Our Christianity will be meaningless if it does not affect lives of people we meet on daily basis. Bearing the name of God should challenge us to live well in our homes, offices and in our neighbourhood.

Food for Thought: The name of the Lord is our source of protection, providence, defence and anchor. Is that name in you.

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 28 verse 10

Prayer: Help me O Lord to live out your name I bear in Jesus name.

Thought For The Week – Have Good Relationship With People

Thought For The Week – Have Good Relationship With People

People all over the world want to be loved; they want someone who will listen to them and talk with them. This is one of the reasons there are so many people in the church and other places where they can interact and share with others. It was Rebecca West who said that “There was a definite process by which one made people into friends, and it involved talking to them and listening to them for hours at a time.” This means that those of us who offer goods and services have a great job to woo people into our businesses by giving out time to talk with them and listening to their complaints.  

In creating and having a good relationship with people, you need to go the extra mile in wooing them to your side through encouraging words; through good moral and character, through money and material things. The essence of this is not for immediate gain but for future and long term fulfilment. However, you should choose your friends for their character; for goodness, for truth and trustworthiness, because some people could take advantage of your goodwill and abuse it. In choosing friends, we should bear in mind that there are relationships for the sake of business and there are relationships for the sake of finding fulfilment in life.

In the opinion of Madame de Tencin, we should “Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you.” Having good relationship with people has these advantages:

Ø  It gives a wide range of opportunities to us – networking, more business opportunities, more customers, more members (churches), more income, etc

Ø  It brings us goodwill from people

Ø  It exposes us to the wider world

Ø  It gives us an opportunity of mentoring people or being mentored.

Ø  It helps to actualize our dreams.

As you go out this week, ensure you affect people through your friendship with them. Don’t always wait to receive; give to people and affect them through your character and good morals. Try to show love to someone and you will never regret it.

Have a lovely week

(Culled from the book I will be presenting on my birthday – My Rise To Legendary Status)

Your Brother and Friend,

Tabugbo Morgan Uzoma

GOD REWARDS INTEGRITY

DEVOTION FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 12, 2016

Topic: GOD REWARDS INTEGRITY         

Text: Proverbs 20 verse 7

In our devotion for yesterday, we saw that God spelt out the terms and conditions of the covenant He made with us even before we of the present day generation, were born. We also saw that walking under these terms and conditions brings blessings and walking against them leads to curses. When we walk according to the will of God, there are rewards for us. God rewards us according to our deeds (Roman 2:6) be it good or bad deeds.

Here in our scriptural reading for the day is also a promise that God will reward our integrity. Integrity means the ‘quality of being honest and upright in character.’ This is one quality see among early Christians. Unfortunately, integrity and honesty is lacking in our present day churches. If this is not so, why all the evil, corruption, frame up and lies that are rampant in our society? However, when anyone singles himself out and stand out, God will surely reward such person.

Can you mention and write down the names of up to three men/women of integrity that lived in your neighbourhood – dead or alive? What can you say about their children today? Can you see the reward of God upon their families? Is there any truth about God’s word manifesting there? Now can you also list three men/women who were not upright in our neighbourhood too? What is the condition of their children today? Can we say that these words of our text are true or false? Any Christian without integrity is a disgrace to his family, the Church, God Almighty and the world. Regrettably, there are many in society today who lack integrity and our generation are hailing them as achievers.

Before writing this devotion, I read online how members of United Methodist Church in Lagos drove their Pastor away because he impregnated his house maid and sent his wife packing. A pastor will kill, tell lies to extort money from people and commit all manner of evil, how much more ordinary members of his Church. Think of traders, civil servants, teachers, students, bus conductors and their drivers, car/motorcycle owner and their operators, can we find integrity among them? The list is endless. We have the testimony of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:12 which is a challenge for us; the present day Christians. What does the society know you for; a fraudster, cheat or honest man/woman? Joseph is an example of man of integrity. If you remain upright and honest, God will reward you and your posterity.

Food for Thought: “To be honest as this world goes is to be one man picked out of a thousand”-Shakespeare.

Memory verse: Proverbs 20 verse 7

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to walk in integrity and I bind every spirit of dishonesty in my life in Jesus name.

WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY? Devotion for Monday September 12, 2016

WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY? Devotion for Monday September 12, 2016

Text: Job 1:1 – 3       Memory verse: v 1

On 2nd October, 2014, the Women Fellowship of Cathedral Church of St. Peter Asaba invited me to speak on the topic, ‘Living above storm.’ The topic was so challenging and inspiring that it opened my eyes to so many things we pass through in life especially if we want to please God and live righteously. When I go home that evening I decided to start writing devotions on the lessons I learnt from the topic I spoke on. That evening and the following day, I wrote the devotion for the next 13 days based on the inspiration for that message. The message was indeed inspiring and challenging. I hope you will learn a lot from our devotion for the next 13 days. Welcome!

In our bible reading today, is the introduction of the person, Job. This is a man with a challenging testimony. A man whose character and commitment to God is a challenge to our present generation where people’s faith and believe is on good and nothing but good. A generation that is ready to praise God only when success comes their way. But here is the testimony about Job which says that he was “Blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” He was also blessed with 10 children and was indeed rich with great possession of livestock (1:2, 3). Job’s habit was to fear God and obey all His commandments. Like Zachariah and Elizabeth, he was "Righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless" (Luke 1:6). What a testimony!

Beloved, what is your testimony? It was not Job that wrote this. It was written by someone else hence the use of the phrase; were born to him and not born to me. What can people say about you? Do you desire to do the will of God and walk in His statues? You should be exact and consistent in all your dealings with men; someone who has no blame in your transaction with men. God demands us to be godly in all we do.

Action: As you go out today, be determined to live an upright life in all your transactions with people.

Prayer: My God and my Father in heaven, help me to live a life that is pleasing to you always and a blameless life in Jesus name.

VIRTUES FOR BROTHERLINESS: Devotion for Tuesday August 2, 2016

VIRTUES FOR BROTHERLINESS: Devotion for Tuesday August 2, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:12 – 17                   Memory verse: v 14

We ended last month by reading how we can redirect our focus by mortification of sin in us and by putting off some bad characters that are actually sin before God. In our text for today, Paul continued to reveal what a new man in Christ should be and the things that will promote brotherliness among Christians and how to live for God. All the virtues that Paul encourages us to develop (to put on) are perfectly bound together by love. As we clothe ourselves with these virtues, the last garment we are to put on is love, which holds all of the others in place. To practice any list of virtues without practicing love will lead to distortion, fragmentation, and stagnation (1 Corinthians 13:3).

He also offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day: (a) Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude (Colossians 3:12–13); (b) let love guide your life (Colossians 3:14); (c) let the peace of Christ rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15); (d) always be thankful (Colossians 3:15); (e) keep God’s Word in you at all times (Colossians 3:16); (f) live as Jesus Christ’s representative (Colossians 3:17). These are ways to live well and for God. Love binds together all the other graces into one whole and thus making the Christian character complete. Are these virtues evident in your life? If not, how do you intend to inculcate them into your life so that Christ will be seen in you?

Food for Thought: All the Christian graces are bound together in love. It is the source of them all.

Prayer: Almighty God, sow in my heart the virtue of love for you and humanity which is the root for all other Christian virtues.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Devotion for Monday June 13, 2016

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Devotion for Monday June 13, 2016     

Text: Galatians 5:22 – 23      Memory verse: v 22, 23 

The fruit of the Spirit is that which He produces in those who follow His guidance. It is the natural growth and result of the Spirit working in a Christian’s life. The Spirit produces these virtues or character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s controlled life; we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help. 

Here, Paul spoke of the works of the flesh as many; but the fruit of the Spirit (9 of them) is spoken of as one, many works, but one fruit. There is such a connection and link of graces, “That although they are distinct in their natures, yet are they inseparable in their subject, pull one link of a chain, and you pull all; so he that has any one spiritual grace in reality, or at least in eminence, cannot be utterly destitute of any other; for where the Holy Spirit is, there cannot be a total defect of any holy grace” so says William Burkett. Is this so in your life as a Christian?

If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow and be seen in us, we must join our lives to His (John 15:4-5). We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law, to love God and our neighbours. Do you have these virtues and qualities in you? If your fruit is seen in some as against some, then there is a problem in your spiritual life. Ask God to help you to bear the fruit of Holy Spirit as expected.

Food for Thought: A society where all people act out these 9 virtues would not need any law again.

Prayer: Lord, help me to bear these fruit of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

BE KNOWN FOR INTEGRITY: Devotion for Sunday May 8, 2016

BE KNOWN FOR INTEGRITY: Devotion for Sunday May 8, 2016

Text: Matthew 7: 15 – 20     Memory verse: v 20

One thing that prevents men from choosing the strait and narrow way that leads to heaven is false doctrine that guarantees them freedom and living carnal lives. We have so many of them today who believe that the teachings of Paul, Peter, John, etc, 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 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 growth in morality. We cannot know the nature of a man, but his fruits (his deeds) will express and expose that nature. Therefore, the way to detect false prophets is by their deeds. A person’s speech will not always correspond to his true nature, as it is implied in 7:21.

Good teachers consistently exhibit good behaviour, integrity and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. Every one of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for ourselves. 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. As Christians, we are teachers of the Bible by our words and action. Do we show integrity in all we do? That will give credence to our confession of faith. Let us be known for integrity and not falsehood and deceits.

Food for Thought: Matthew 3:10

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.

Pray and celebrate with Prisca Chimdifu Uzoma today as she marks her birthday.

CAN GOD VOUCH FOR YOU: Devotion for Sunday March 13, 2016

CAN GOD VOUCH FOR YOU: Devotion for Sunday March 13, 2016  

Text: Job 1:6 – 12     Memory verse: v 8

Any Christian whose character God can’t vouch for is a deceit and candidate for hell. Before God can vouch for you as His son or daughter, you must have a constant fellowship/relationship with Him. He must see a desire for holiness and righteousness in your life. Such person is not just a churchgoer who doesn’t take God’s worship seriously. What we have in our text, is the story of how Satan came into the gathering of believers. His aim and target was Job. God knew him and all his thoughts and was quick to point it out to him. What does this omniscience nature of God teach us of God meeting our needs? Satan asserted that the blessings of God and hedge around Job are the reasons why he was a Christian (1:10 & 11). But God was quick to vouch for Job that he was a sincere Christian (1:8). He gave Satan the permission to touch his properties and not his soul (1:12) as a proof of what He knows about Job.      

God confidently pointed out the allegiance of his servant Job. Satan’s response to God shows that he had scrutinized Job carefully. Do you know that Satan watches every moment of your life to find fault on how to accuse or attack you? Satan does this always against all Christians in order to find their weaknesses and turn them against God. However, in all these, can God vouch for you that you are not compromising, living in sin, pompous, etc? Search yourself now.

Food for Thought: What can God say today about your relationship with Him?

Prayer: Make me faithful servant that you can vouch for O Lord, my God.

LOVE NEVER FAILS: Devotion for Tuesday February 16, 2016

LOVE NEVER FAILS   Tuesday February 16, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 10     Memory verse: v 10

Paul expresses the value of love which he said can never be obsolete; it will always have its place. All the spiritual gifts will eventually disappear, but love will last forever. On this earth, everything is imperfect. No matter how much people may know, they know only a little. No matter how much prophecy is given; it still reveals little. Everything will be made perfect and complete at the arrival of God’s Kingdom (the end). 

At that time, all the special gifts of the Spirit will disappear. Because gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ, they will no longer be needed. Then the body will be complete. Yet love will continue (1 Corinthians 13:8), because love is the very essence of God Himself. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love caused Him to reach out to undeserving humanity and send a Saviour. His love saved people and will bring them into his Kingdom to be with Him forever.

On the other hand, works of love never die too. They outlive us. Love is the gift and virtue that can accompany us to heaven because that is the essence of life of Christianity. The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22 is love. It shows how important love is in our lives as Christians. Do you actually love God and man? Note that without genuine love for God and man, you are deficient in your character as a Christian.

Action: As you go out today, use every opportunity you have to show love to someone.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to love you and my neighbours as I ought to in Jesus name.