The Cost of being a Disciple: Devotion for Saturday April 4, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday April 4, 2020

Topic: The Cost of being a Disciple                           

Text: Luke 14:25 – 35

Following Christ means total submission to Him above all other things of great value or intimacy to us. It has its consequences and costs. One of the costs of being a disciple is not allowing your intimacy on your immediate family to be far above your intimacy with God.

What Luke 14:26 says is not a contradiction to the fifth commandment rather Jesus Christ meant that we are to love them less than we love Him; we are to obey Him more rather than them especially in the things spiritual. Again, we should be willing to forsake them if He calls us to go and preach His gospel; and we are to submit, without a murmur, to Him when He takes them away from us.

Jesus Christ emphasized on the need for feasibility study even in Christianity. He explained this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. We should count the cost of being a disciple which include mortifying of sin in our body and even the most beloved things we lust after.

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Jesus summed up His teaching here by telling the disciples what they ought to be in the society. He likened them to salt which is very expedient seasoning in any food. This means that we should also act as seasoning to our generation. Are you a seasoning?

Food for Thought: Have you really forsaken all for Christ?  

Memory verse: Luke 14:26

Prayer: My Father in heaven, help me to remove whatever will endanger my relationship with you so I will be a faithful disciple in Jesus.

What Is Your Request? Devotion for Thursday March 26, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday March 26, 2020

Topic: What Is Your Request?                             

Text: Esther 5: 1 – 8

Esther’s courageous act is a model for us to follow in approaching a difficult or dangerous task. Like Esther, we can: (1) calculate the cost: Esther realized her life was at stake when she said “If perish, I perish” Esther 4:16. (2) Set priorities: She believed that the safety of the Jewish race was more important than her life. (3) Prepare: She gathered support and fasted. (4) Determine a course of action and move ahead boldly: She didn’t think too long about it, allowing the interlude to lessen her commitment to what she had to do.

Do you have to face a hostile audience, confront a friend on a delicate subject, or talk to your family about changes to be made? Rather than dreading difficult situations or putting them off, take action with confidence by following Esther’s inspiring example.

It was Esther’s courageous move that led to the question which is our topic for the day. The king noticed that something led Esther to risk her life and thus he raised the question and she demanded a dinner with the king and Haman. If God can grant Esther such favour before men how much more when He is involved (compare Matthew 7:11)?

Beloved, what is your request? Is it money for rents and bills? Is it fruit of the womb? Is it a job? Just follow Esther’s model and God will move in your favour.

Food for Thought: God issued us a blank cheque in Matthew 7:7. How do you make good use of it?

Memory verse: Esther 5:3

Prayer: Make your request known to God bearing in mind Numbers 14:28 and Matthew 7:7

The Example From Matthew

Devotion for Wednesday January 31, 2018

Topic: The Example From Matthew

Text: Matthew 9:9 – 13

Yesterday, we read about the terms and conditions Jesus Christ gave to those who would be His disciples. Today, we have an example from Matthew who became one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Matthew was in a tax office when Jesus met him. He requested that Matthew should follow Him and immediately he left everything and followed Jesus. He didn’t wait to write a resignation letter. He didn’t wait to hand over, he left everything immediately as Peter and his fishermen colleagues did and followed Jesus. 

In the previous chapter of this gospel, Matthew 8:18 - 22, we have the story of a man desiring to follow Jesus. When Jesus mentioned the terms and conditions, he withdrew. Jesus told the second one to follow him and he gave excuses of going to bury his father. The two men were opposite of what we saw in Matthew. His action shows his love for God is far greater than his love for his job, family or any other worldly possessions. This is what God expects from us. Our love for Him must be greater that our love for our jobs, families or any other worldly possessions. 

Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ the way Peter, Matthew and other Apostles followed Him? What are the things hindering your commitments to God? The example Matthew gave to us is a challenging one. Take up that challenge and prove your love for God. Sing A&M 331; Abu 109

Food for Thought: Have you left all to follow Jesus?

Memory verse: Matthew 9:9

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord my God, to follow the example of Matthew in forsaking all to follow you in Jesus name. Amen. 

The Cost Of Following Jesus

Devotion for Tuesday January 30, 2018

Topic: The Cost Of Following Jesus

Text: Matthew 16:24 – 28

There are always terms and conditions which apply to any contract or agreement. In terms of our relationship with God, there are terms and conditions attached to it. Jesus came to establish the New Covenant. Our Catechism has it that Jesus commands us in the New Covenant to believe in Him and to keep His commandments with the promise to bring us into the Kingdom of God and give us life in its fullness. In our bible passage for the day, He states one of the conditions expected of would be disciples which is self- denial, taking up one’s cross and following Him. 

The words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:24 show us the 4 principles of the Christian life. 

1) He must have a sincere desire to belong to Christ - If any man desires to be my disciple. 

2) He should renounce self-dependence, and selfish pursuits – Let him deny himself. 

3) He should embrace the condition which God has appointed, and bear the troubles and difficulties he may meet with in walking the Christian road - Let him take up his cross. 

4) He should imitate Jesus by following Him even in suffering – Let him follow me. 

Everything in life has a cost attached to it. You cannot claim to be a disciple of Jesus without fulfilling these principles and conditions or else you will not be sincere in being His disciple. Have you met the terms and conditions of being a disciple? If not, there is still time for you to key into the conditions so as to benefit from His promises in the New Covenant. 

Sing SS&S 597; Abu 110

Food for Thought: A true disciple of Christ in all things denies his own will, however pleasing, and does the will of God, however painful.

Memory verse: Matthew 10:38

Prayer: Lord God, help me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you all the days of my life in Jesus name. Amen

Count The Cost

Devotion for Friday January 5, 2018

Topic: Count The Cost

Text: Luke 14:25 – 33

Jesus Christ taught His disciples the cost of being a disciple and advised that anyone who desires to be His disciple must first sit down and count the cost so that he will not fall by the wayside and people will make mockery of him. Even common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish it. Anyone who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. This advice Jesus Christ gave is very important in every endeavour or career we want to undertake in life. It will be proper to count the cost implications before we set out. What are your plans for this year? Have you counted the cost implications? Proverbs 24:27 admonishes that we shouldn’t do a work without planning towards it. This year, do nothing without a plan. The Living Bible has Proverbs 24:27 thus: Develop your business before building a house. This reason is to ensure that your business doesn’t suffer while you are building the house and perhaps you fail to complete the building and the business also collapses. Beloved, the message here is about prudence and wisdom in all we do. Never embark on anything without proper planning to avoid regret and exposure to ridicule. Plan well for the year and by December, you will not have any reason to regret and face ridicule of people. Be wise! Sing A&M 356; Abu 186

Food for Thought: Anyone who becomes a Christian, without considering the dangers and difficulties, the trials and troubles, the afflictions and temptations, which may accompany it, will never hold out in the spiritual warfare; for either he falls in it, or runs from it.

Memory verse: Luke 14:28

Prayer: God, as I have resolved to follow you, help me in my resolution to remain a faithful disciple all the days of my life in Jesus name. Amen.

WHEN YOUR WAY PLEASES GOD

DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2016

WHEN YOUR WAY PLEASES GOD            

Text: Proverbs 16:7                          

Have you ever wondered why people look up themselves on the mirror after dressing and want to go out? It is because we want people to like us and we can do anything possible to please them in order to win their approval. We wear make-up, perfume, good clothes and shoes, etc just to appeal to people. That is the extent we can go to get the approval of man. Unfortunately, the energy we channel towards trying to please men is not channeled towards pleasing God.

God requires us to channel all our energy and the resources at our disposal into pleasing Him for it is the only way to guarantee our peace with people including our enemies. How can we please the Lord? List some ways you can please the Lord in your study note for future references. Adam Clarke said something interesting about this our text. He asserts that “God is the guardian and defence of all that fear and love Him; and it is truly astonishing to see how wondrously God works in their behalf, raising them up friends, and turning their enemies into friends.” Isn’t this very interesting that God works in our favour and turning our enemies into our friends? This should make us to please Him the more with our lives, our time and our resources.  

Does it costs anything to please God and do you think you will lose in doing so?  Absolutely nothing and no loss! Rather, it comes with unspeakable blessings, which are uncommon. In 1 John 3:22, we have a reward for pleasing God. Again, Jesus Christ, our example said something challenging in John 8:29. Find out what He said in that bible passage. When any of our children do what is pleasing to us we can do anything for them. So it is with God. Remember the case of Herod who granted the desire of the daughter for dancing by beheading John the Baptist. If Herod can go to that level to please fellow human being, how much more God; who have heaven and earth at his disposal? Determine to please God from today and He will command love to flow from your enemies.

Food for Thought: Does it actually cost anything to please God? Think about it.

Memory verse: Proverbs 16 verse 7

Prayer: God, grant me the heart of obedience to your word so I can please you always in Jesus name.