What Is Your Servant? Devotion for Saturday January 25, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday January 25, 2020

Topic: What Is Your Servant?                        

Text: 2 Samuel 9:8

Family Bible Notes posited that “A conviction of unworthiness, and true gratitude for favours, tend greatly to increase the liberality and usefulness of the giver, and also the happiness and benefit of the receiver.” This statement was true in the case of Mephibosheth. The way David treated him surprised him which led to the topic of the day. His treatment of Mephibosheth shows David’s integrity as a leader who accepted his obligation to show love and mercy. His generous provision for Jonathan’s son goes beyond any political benefit he might have received and that humbled Mephibosheth.

It is good to have a humble heart under undeserved Providences. This is applicable to our salvation too. We deserved death by virtue of our sins but God in His love and mercies came and died for us. This should make us humble in whatever position we find ourselves. This led to the statements Paul made in 1 Corinthians 15:9 and Ephesians 3:8. Mephibosheth use the phrase, a servant and dead dog not because he was crippled but because he saw himself as a despised person who was not worthy of such honour. Do you have a humbled heart? How do you feel about the gifts God has bestowed on you? A thankful heart is the greatest virtue. 

Food for Thought: The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.

Memory verse: 2 Samuel 9:8

Prayer: Lord God, grant me a thankful heart to always appreciate my salvation and works of mercies you do in my life. 

   

ABSOLUTE COMPLIANCE OR NOTHING: Devotion for Tuesday August 9, 2016

ABSOLUTE COMPLIANCE OR NOTHING: Devotion for Tuesday August 9, 2016

Text: Leviticus 27:26 – 34                

Memory verse: Leviticus 27:30 – And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.

For the past five days, we have been reading about reasons why we should pay our tithes. We saw five reasons why we should pay tithe. As a reminder, the five reasons are: A means of providing for the church, providing for the less privileged in the society, a means of insurance and assurance, covenant to receive more and a test of our obedience.

Tithing is an obligation on us Christians. It is not negotiable or optional just as we have in our memory verse for the day. In our text we have things that are God’s which cannot be redeemed. However, 27:31 says, “If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.” Things or persons devoted are distinguished from things or persons that were only sanctified.

Devoted things were most holy to the Lord, and could neither be taken back nor applied to other purposes. Many of us no longer remember that we have fruit of the trees and the seed of the land belongs to the Lord. Presently, our emphasis is on money alone. For those who owe fruit bearing trees, you shouldn’t forget this instruction here. The essence of these laws is to help us acknowledge God as the owner of our land, the giver of its fruits, and ourselves as His tenants, and dependants upon Him.    

Many of the principles regarding sacrifices and tithes were intended to encourage inward attitudes as well as outward actions. The inward attitude include obedience, faith, dependence on God, etc while the outward action includes honour for God, dedication, commitment, etc. This teaches us to honour the Lord with our substance (Proverbs 3:9). If a person gives grudgingly, it shows that he has a stingy heart. God wants us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7), who give with gratitude to Him. Remember, what God requires from us in tithes and offerings are obedience, gratitude and honour for Him. He doesn’t even eat or use them. They are reserved for His services.    

Food for Thought: Do you give grudgingly or cheerfully?

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to acknowledge and appreciate you as the source of all that I have and all that I am in Jesus name.