At Calvary, They Crucified Jesus

Devotion for Good Friday March 30, 2018

Topic: At Calvary, They Crucified Jesus

Text: Luke 23:32 – 49  

Luke called the place where Jesus was crucified, Calvary while the other three evangelists called it, Place of Skull or Golgotha in Hebrew (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22 & John 19:17). Calvary is a hill just outside the city walls of Jerusalem where the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place. The choice of Calvary was for a purpose. The Chief Priest and Romans soldiers choose the place which was conspicuous so as to make mockery of Jesus but they never knew it was symbolic. See Hebrews 13:11, 12 and compare it with these passages Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:11 – 12, 21; 6:30; 9:11; 16:27; Numbers 19:3. He was crucified there because bearing the sins of the world just like the lamb in the Old Testament bearing sin is burnt outside the camp. To show what He came to do at Calvary, the first thing was to plea for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. He died to purchase our forgiveness. He also pardoned one of the criminals right there at Calvary. This shows that true repentance is never late. But we should not procrastinate about it because we may not have the grace this criminal enjoyed. As the soldiers taunted Him, He was humble and didn’t retaliate (1 Pet 2:21 – 24). His death was recorded in Luke 23:46 while the reaction of the Centurion to His death is in Luke 23:47. Having died for us, we should seek to glorify God with true repentance and conversion; by a sober, righteous, and godly life; and by employing our talents in the service of Him who died for us and rose again.

Sing SS&S 621; Abu 35

Food for Thought: Christ became accursed for us upon the cross. What have you done to reciprocate this sacrifice?

Memory verse: Luke 23:33

Prayer: God, grant that this ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for me will not be in vain.

Why Fiery Serpent?

Devotion for Friday November 10, 2017

Topic: Why Fiery Serpent?

Text: Numbers 21:4 – 9

God chose this method of healing to cure the snakebite on the Israelites for some reasons. God prescribed this method to show that it was God’s own work, and not the effect of nature or art. Again, that it might be an eminent type of our salvation by Christ. The Fiery Serpent here signified Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, though without sin, as this brazen serpent had the outward shape, but not the inward poison of the other serpents.

The pole resembled the cross upon which Christ was lifted up for our salvation and looking up to the fiery serpent is similar to our belief in the work Christ did at the Cross. It took some time to make the fiery serpent because God would not speedily take off the judgement, until He saw that they were thoroughly humbled. God chose the fiery serpent to show us what He intended to for us through Christ.

Many still died without looking at the fiery serpent. In the same manner, people are dying today without looking at Jesus’ work on Calvary. Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary for a purpose. You should look at Him on the Cross now that you are alive before it will be too late. Those who refused to look at the fiery serpent died even when there was an opportunity to being healed. Act now and look at Jesus who died for you on the Cross of Calvary and you will not need to die again.

Food for Thought: Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary for your sake. Are you aware of this and have you actually believed in what He did for you there?

Memory verse: John 3:14

Prayer: God, may I look at Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary of the poisonous effect of sin in my life in the name of the same Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen

Enemies Of The Cross

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday July 15, 2017

Topic: Enemies Of The Cross

Text: Philippians 3:17 – 19

In our bible reading for the day, Paul speaks of nominal Christians who used their liberty as a clock for licentiousness. They are enemies of the Cross according to Paul. Their evil lives bring shame upon the religion of the Cross. Paul criticized self-indulgent Christians, people who claimed to be Christians but couldn’t live up to Christ’s model of servanthood and self-sacrifice.

These enemies were professed believers who were corrupting the gospel by their immoral lives and false teachings (Galatians 1:7, 6:12 and Philippians 1:15 – 16). They were not opened and avowed enemies of the Cross nor did they deny that Jesus Christ didn’t die on the Cross to make atonement for our sins rather; they were living in a manner inimical to pure gospel. An immoral life is an enemy of the Cross of Christ who died to make us holy.

Someone becomes an enemy of the Cross when there is no evidence that the heart is renewed. Similar people are found in the churches today. Some are even in the altars. How are you living your life as a Christian? Are you among those that commit all forms of sins because they are no longer under the law (Romans 6:14 and 15)? Are you in the church keeping malice, committing fornication, practicing masturbation, you are still involved in corrupt practices, etc? You are an enemy of the Cross Repent before it would be too late

Food for Thought: Freedom in Christ doesn’t mean freedom to be selfish but taking every opportunity to serve and to become the best person you can be.

Memory verse: Philippians 3 verse 18

Prayer: Lord God, help me to avoid any sin that will make me an enemy of the Cross.

To Be Saved Is Very Simple

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday June 7, 2017                

Topic: To Be Saved Is Very Simple                                        

Text: Luke 23:40 – 43            

Some people believe that salvation offered by Christ is very hard to obtain. People who know that armed robber who Jesus forgave on the Cross of Calvary would have concluded that he went to hell fire. Those he robbed would have wished he went to hell to suffer in hell fire for all the atrocities he committed. This is how most of us condemn and conclude wrongly. We should be careful because on the last day we will be disappointed when we see the people that made heaven and hell at last. My desire is that we will make heaven in Jesus name. Paradise is the place where the souls of the righteous remain after death till the resurrection. It is a place of blessedness. On the cross, the evil doer, who believed in Christ received forgiveness and was granted access to paradise. This goes to confirm what Paul said in Rom. 10:10. From this passage we should note that there is future and eternal state into which all souls pass at death. It takes surrendering your life to Christ, believing in His death and resurrection to be saved. The thief made that simple prayers and God was merciful to him. Are your sins too many and you think God cannot forgive you? There is no sin He cannot forgive when we truly and sincerely turn to Him. The expectation from you is repentance. It was so simple for the Jailer and his family (Acts 16:30–33). It will be so simple for you if only you could believe and accept Him today.

Food for Thought: We receive salvation when we believe in our hearts and confess it with our mouth.

Memory verse: Luke 23 verse 43

Prayer: Pray about your salvation. If you have received Christ pray it will be permanent. If not, repent and surrender your life to Him now.