Utilize Your Gifts

Devotion for Tuesday January 9, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Gifts

Text: Proverbs 18:16

Gifts are something bestowed on us. If we can afford such thing, we can’t call it a gift. The author of Proverbs says the gift of a man and not the wealth. This gift can be talent, wisdom, knowledge, craft, art, etc. The gift makes way for the owner and brings him or her before great men. From this verse of the scripture, there are three things we should note of. 1) Every man has a gift. This truth is illustrated in the parable Jesus gave about talents in Matthew 25:14 – 30. There was no servant without a talent. Though some of the servants had more talents than other servants, none was left without one. 2) Talents are meant to be utilized. In that same parable, the king condemned the servant that didn’t utilize the talent he received. For every talent God has given to us, we must utilize them or else on the day of reckoning, we will be condemned for not using them. 3) When we use them, it brings us before kings. A look at that parable in Matthew 25:14 – 30 shows us the reward of using our talents. Those that used theirs were brought before the king for commendation and reward while the man that hid his talent was condemned and cast out into a place of regret.  In the days ahead, we will look at some examples of those that used their talents and how it brought them before kings. What are your gifts/talents? How are you utilizing them? Sing A&M 331, Abu 109

Food for Thought: “Concealed talent brings no reputation” – Erasmus.

Memory verse: Matthew 25:20

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to utilize my gifts and may they bring me before great men in Jesus name. Amen\

Don’t Give Up Until It Is Over

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday March 1, 2017

Topic: Don’t Give Up Until It Is Over

Text: Job 14:14

I watched a penalty shoot-out between two football teams. The last player in team B, came kicked the ball and it hit at the cross bar, went up and fell inside the 18 yards box. The boy who played the penalty held his head mourning. The goalkeeper of the team A left the post; ran to his teammates and they were rejoicing. The referee kept calm watching the ball as it was bouncing and rolling inside and 18yards box.

After about a minute, the ball rolled into the net and the referee blew his whistle to the astonishment of both teams. The boy that played the ball had thought it was over and the keeper also thought it was over but they were all surprised because it was not over.

Job was prophetic when he said he will wait till change will come. Though he had lost all, he was still hopeful for a change. He was full of assurance that God will restore him and God did at the end (Job 42:10 – 12).

Many people have lost opportunities to mount the rostrum for recognition because they gave up at the time they would have been recognised. Some abandoned their studies because they thought they can’t make it; some their businesses, craft, calling, etc. It is not over with you. Therefore don’t give up. We have heard stories of women giving birth for the first time at over fifty years. Why give up trial and believing God for your own child? Why give up in that third attempt to secure admission into the university? As you keep on believing God in this new month, I assure you of your breakthrough in this new month. Happy New Month!

Food for Thought: Don’t give up now. You are closer to success, fulfilment and recognition. Just take the next step or make another effort.

Memory verse: Job 14 verse 14