New Life in Christ Jesus: Devotion for Thursday July 2, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday July 2, 2020

Topic: New Life in Christ Jesus                        

Text: Ezekiel 36:25 – 38                             

Water is an emblem signifying cleansing our impure souls from sin as God promised in Ezekiel 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 Ezekiel 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?                                                                     

Memory verse: Ezekiel 36:27                                                                                     

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

Do As I Have Done To You

Devotion for Maundy Thursday March 29, 2018

Topic: Do As I Have Done To You  

Text: John 13:1 – 17  

Feet were usually washed before the meal but Jesus waited until during the supper (John 13:2) to make the act of feet washing stand out and to be noted. He took the role of a servant without losing anything (John 13:3). The purpose of this action was to fix in their minds the nature of true greatness. This could be traced to the event in Luke 22:24 – 30 when the disciples were in dispute over who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus had taught them that greatness in the kingdom comes through serving others (Matthew 20:26-27), but they had not learned the lesson. Thus, He gave them this unforgettable illustration. According to Brunner, “When a man turns to God desiring to serve Him, God directs his attention to the world and its need.” Have you realised this truth? At first Peter refused to allow Jesus wash his feet (John 13:6 - 11), which pointed toward Jesus’ cleansing work on the cross. But when Peter saw that this foot washing was symbolic of cleansing from sin, he requested to be washed from head to foot. He misunderstood Jesus the Messiah’s servant role and therefore his own role as disciple. In John 13:10 Jesus came back to the literal point. The spiritual point had already been understood. They were already clean. Jesus was also showing His disciples what it meant to serve and what it meant to be great in the kingdom of God. His challenge in John 13:15 is for us today. Are you serving God in others? Sing A&M 108; Abu 31

Food for Thought: “When a man turns to God desiring to serve Him, God directs his attention to the world and its need” – Brunner.

Memory verse: John 13:15

Prayer: God teach me humility and service for humanity in Jesus name.

BLESSINGS IN PURITY OF HEART

DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 20, 2016

Topic: BLESSINGS IN PURITY OF HEART    

Text: Matthew 5:8                      Memory verse: Matthew 5:8

Purity is very essential in our Christian walk. God is pure and it is expected that we should be pure too. People characterized as pure in heart are people who are honest and sincere, people who do not accommodate evil thoughts in their hearts. The pure in heart are free from the dominion and pollution of sin. They are people of integrity and they demonstrate single-minded commitment to God. They are also free from evil desires and purposes, pride, evil thoughts, corruption, and lust.

In Psalm 51:10, David prayed that God should create in him a clean heart. This implies that for our heart to be pure, we need the washing of the heart with the blood of Jesus Christ which God alone can do. This is the promise of God in Ezekiel 36:25–28. What it involves is that we should always ask God for cleansing of our hearts because it can be polluted in a matter of seconds if we don’t guard what we take to heart.

Our hearts becomes impure when we allow filth to enter through what we read, hear, see or think. This is the reason for the admonition in Proverbs 4:23. We have a duty here to guide our hearts against pollution so that we will receive this reward. Because of the sincere devotion of a pure heart to Christ, such will see God here and now through the eyes of faith (Hebrews 11:27), and finally face-to-face (1 John 3:2). How pure is your heart? Are you one of those who will see God face to face? It has been my prayer that I will see God. Is that your desire too?

Food for Thought: Psalm 24:3 & 4

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to maintain a pure heart always so I will be qualified to see your face.