A Life Without Christ: Devotion for Monday August 3, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday August 3, 2020

Topic: A Life without Christ   

Text: Ephesians 2:11 – 13                       

A life without Christ is miserable. That is the worst life someone can think of. This was our case before Christ came and died for us. Jews considered all non-Jews (Gentiles) ceremonially unclean. They thought of themselves as pure and clean because of their national heritage and religious ceremonies. This was one reason Christ was rebuking them of their false claims and hypocrisy.

Apostle Paul pointed out that Jews and Gentiles alike are unclean before God and needed to be cleansed by Christ. In order to realize how great a gift of salvation is, we need to remember our former natural, unclean condition. This is what Paul posited in Ephesians 2:11, 12. See Romans 3:9, 23.

As Gentiles, we were living without any of the hopes and consolations which we now have, from having accepted and embraced Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Paul raised this to remind us of the deplorable condition in which we were by nature; and nothing would better express it than to say we were "without Christ," or that they had no knowledge of a Saviour. Therefore we shouldn’t allow this privilege to slip off our hands.

On the other hand, have you ever felt separate, excommunicated, excluded, and hopeless? These verses are for you. No one is alienated from Christ’s love or from the body of believers. You are Christ own forever if you continue to live in Him and by His Word

Food for Thought: Ephesians 4:17 – 19

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:12                                                                               

Prayer: God, you have shown me your love through Christ Jesus. Help me never to live a life without Christ henceforth in Jesus name.

SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER: Devotion for Wednesday August 31, 2016

SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER: Devotion for Wednesday August 31, 2016

Text: Ephesians 5:21 – 33         Memory verse: Ephesians 5:21

Submitting to another person is an often misunderstood concept. I witness a counseling of an intending couple. The priest counseling them laid so much emphasis on the woman submitting to the man as if the instruction was meant for the woman alone. In the real sense of submitting to one another, it means yielding cheerful obedience to proper authority, from regard to God, who established it.

Paul proceeded to expand on the matter by the mention of particular cases. When we submit to God, we become more willing to obey His command to submit to others, that is, to subordinate our rights to theirs. In a marriage relationship, both husband and wife are called to submit. For the wife, this means willingly following her husband’s leadership IN CHRIST. For the husband, it means putting aside his own interests in order to care for his wife. Submission is rarely a problem in homes where both partners have a strong relationship with Christ and where each is concerned for the happiness of the other.

The love, Christ has for the church is an example Paul used in this case, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. How sincere is your love for your spouse; your children, your parents, your subordinate, your boss, your neighbour, your colleagues, etc? Do you love them as you love yourself? We shouldn’t be so tenacious on our own will or opinion in matters indifferent, as to disturb the peace of the Church; the peace with our spouses, our neighbours, our colleagues, etc. Relationship thrives on the basis of give and take. In all such matters, give way to each other, and let love rule (Phil. 2:3). That is what Paul admonished us here to do in terms of submission.   

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 5:5

Prayer: Lord, remove from me spirit of self and pride and grant me the grace to be submissive in all things lawful in Jesus name.

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS: Devotion for Friday June 10, 2016

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS: Devotion for Friday June 10, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 36:25 – 38   Memory verse: v 27

Water is an emblem of the cleansing our impure souls from sin as God promised in 36:25. But no water can do more than take away the filth of the flesh. Water seems in general the sacramental (baptism) sign of the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost in the Old Testament; yet this is always connected with the atoning blood of Christ as we have in the New Testament. The beginning of all true reformation is the inward cleansing of the soul by God's Spirit. His power alone can change the heart of stone to flesh. When this is done, men will render willing obedience to all God's statutes and judgments. This act of cleansing with water is the sign or beginning of new life in Christ Jesus as we have in the New Testament.

Have you actually received the sprinkling of this water? If you haven’t received it, you can hardly live a fruitful Christian life. In our bible text, God stated the benefits of having the spiritual cleansing in 36:27–33. List them out. The aftermath of these promises is that God will make His presence and power so manifest in the life of His people, that their enemies shall be compelled to see and acknowledge that He is with them, as their Almighty Friend and Helper. It is my prayer that God will do something in your life this season that will make people around you to say it is good to serve God.

Food for Thought: Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Prayer: Lord God, wash me with the cleansing power in the blood of Jesus that I might have new life in Christ Jesus, Amen

LIFE WITH ITS TROUBLES

LIFE WITH ITS TROUBLES    Thursday July 9, 2015

Text: Job 14:1 – 6                         Memory verse: v 1

Human life is momentary. All his show of beauty, happiness, and splendour falls before the stroke of sickness or death, as the flower before the scythe; or passes away like the shadow. How is it possible for a man's conduct to be sinless, when his heart is by nature unclean? Job’s understanding was that life is short and full of trouble. Sickness, loneliness, disappointment, and death cause Job to say that life is not fair. It is God that determines, by His counsel and decree, how long we shall live. Our times are in His hands, the powers of nature act under him; in him we live and move.

What Job said is a confirmation of the decree God made when Man fell off His glory (Genesis 3:17 – 19). We should reflect seriously on the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and the fading nature of all earthly enjoyments. It was the brevity and misery of human life that made God to offer us eternal life in Christ Jesus (John 3:16). Do you desire to overcome the troubles of life? Then make Jesus your Lord and Saviour today.

Food for Thought: What is life without Christ Jesus?

Prayer: God grant me the understanding of life so that I will live according to your will and purposes in Jesus name. Amen 

JOY IN HEAVEN

JOY IN HEAVEN                Tuesday May 19, 2015

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:15 – 18       Memory verse: v 18   

Christianity is life of hope and expectations (Hebrews 11:6). Our hope is in Christ (Romans 8:24; Hebrews 11:1). This prompted Paul to encourage the Corinthians to live by faith and not by sight (5:7). We are to take our eyes off this world, for the troubles will soon be over. Instead, we should fix our eyes on the Almighty, the One who possessed all power, for He will bring joy that will last forever. Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is—there is life after death! Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life.

Family Bible Notes sums 2 Corinthians 4:18 by saying that, “The endless glories which await faithful ministers and Christians, and for which their present trials are preparing them, are such that, in comparison, the latter are swallowed up and lost in the eternal greatness of the former.” This kind of joy made Jesus to endure all forms of ills to obtain it (Hebrews 12:2). Do you foresee that kind of joy? Does it make you to endure all trials and temptations of life? When you see the glory that awaits us as Christians you will never mind whatever may be the troubles of life that confronts you. It is my gracious desire that God will open your eyes to see His glory in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Prayer: Open my eyes O Lord, to behold what you have kept for me so that it will encourage me to live faithful life for you in Jesus name.

    

THEY HAVE NO ROOT

THEY HAVE NO ROOT              Monday May 4, 2015

Text: Luke 8:11 – 15                 Memory verse: v 13

It is very impossible for any tree to stand or survive without the root. This is a basic truth about our relationship with God (John 15:5). Unfortunately, most of us Christians today still believe that we can stand without root. Yesterday, we saw the need to be deeply rooted in Christ so as not to be deceived.

Jesus classified the people who hear the word of God (Luke 8:1ff). This class that fell on the rock are people who hear the word of God but will not want to take a step further so as to be well grounded in faith of Christ. They still remain babes in Christ and thus are easily tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:14 compare 1 Corinthians 3:1 – 3; Hebrews 5:12 14). Some were sincere and have made a real start in the life of faith. However, when temptation comes, they lose interest, stop coming to church and drop out of sight.

How rooted are you in Christ Jesus? To develop roots in Christ Jesus, we need to read and listen to the word of God always (Joshua 1:6 – 8). It is in constant meditation on the words of God that we can stand firm and grow up unto maturity. The deeper the root, the stronger it is for the tree to resist wind and tempest. So the deeper we have the word of God in us the stronger we are to resist temptations and trials. What level is your root in Christ? You can still go deeper. Maximize the opportunities to grow more roots.

Food for Thought: The deeper your root, the greater strength you will have to resist temptations and trials of life.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be thoroughly rooted in you so I can resist trials

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

 

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE      Saturday April 25, 2015

Text: John 10:22 – 30                    Memory verse: v 28

At Solomon’s porch (10:23) in the Temple, some of the Jews came to Jesus demanding that he should plainly tell them if He is Christ having kept them in doubt for some time now (10: 24). Responding, Jesus to made it clear that He has told them but they did not believe, even when the works He did in the name of His father bore witness for Him (10:25). He went further to say that it is so because they are not His sheep (10:26). A real sheep of Christ hears His voice and follows Him (10:27) and He gives them eternal life (John 5:24). In John 10:25 – 28, Jesus recapped the blessings of those who truly listen to and believe the gospel. Can you mention them?

All these are the privileges of believers in Christ Jesus. If you are not yet his sheep, you are not a beneficiary of these rights and privileges. You should better repent now to be part of it. Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects his people from eternal harm. While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life with God. May, this be your portion in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: John 6:37

Prayer: God, grant unto me that eternal life and security, and help me to faithfully follow you as I hear your voice in Jesus name.