Lord Speak To Me That I May Speak

Devotion for Friday July 27, 2018

Sing SS&S 786 (Abu 129) – Lord Speak To Me That I May Speak

Topic: Be Doers Of The Word

Text: James 1:22 – 25

I remember when I was living in a school hostel and seemed very fanatical about the bible. Each time I made a mistake or by any of my group (fellowship members), a particular student would use the statement to scold us. And when she does that, I would feel pain as if I was whipped. It is not just enough to go to church daily, bible study and hold night vigil through the week yet your life speaks the opposite of what you profess. Non-Christians expect us to live like Christ. We know from the bible that Christ our Lord is good; His works are good, His life speaks well and utterances radiate good and there is no wickedness found in Him. The early disciple radiated same charisma and that was why they were called Christians in Antioch.

To be a Christian means to live like Christ so that when you present the Word to unbelievers they will not reject it. We should note that James wrote this to Christians who attend church and hears the word of God regularly not pagans who don’t go to church nor hear the word of God. His intent was to caution those in the church who hears the word of God regularly for them to know that to hearing without doing what they heard is self-deception while the hearers and doers of the word of God are blessed.

How do we take the word we hear? Do you see the word preached as the right message for you or just meant for Mary or John? A woman who has been an old member of a church shook hands with a pastor after service one Sunday morning and said “that was a wonderful sermon, just wonderful! Everything you said applies to someone I know.” James doesn’t want us to apply the word to someone else but to apply it to ourselves. If you want blessing in your life then apply the word of God you hear or read daily into your life.

Food for Thought: Mere hearers of the word of God are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found to be the worst deceit at last.

Memory verse: James 1:22

Prayer Point: Help me oh Lord, to do all I hear and to learn from you total obedience to your word in Jesus name.

Do You Undermine God’s Word

Devotion for Tuesday October 31, 2017

Topic: Do You Undermine God’s Word

Text: John 12:44 – 50

John 12:48 is similar to Deuteronomy 18:19. Many people are eager to hear God’s word or preach it but very few are ready to apply same into their lives. The doers of the word of God are justified according to Apostle Paul (Romans 2:13). Thus James affirms in his exhortation in James 1:22.

Here in our bible reading for the day is an obvious truth. Jesus asserts that if anyone hears His word and does not believe it, that truth He preached will judge the person at last. A sinner will certainly remember the word he heard on the last day and that will be the source of his/her condemnation. Undermining the word of God we hear makes us not to be committed in the things of God and it makes us faithless when we come to the crossroads of life. Another side effect of undermining God’s word is that it makes us lose sight of what God is capable of doing for us. Lastly, those who undermine God’s word act hypocritically and are compromisers.

How do you treat the word of God you read, hear or preach? Do you read, hear or preach and undermine it? Do you attend all the conferences and conventions of your church and have nothing to show for it? When we hear the word of God and undermine it, the result will be what Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:2. Do not hear the word of God and refuse to surrender your life to Jesus? By so doing, you have already condemned yourself. Again, men of Nineveh will rise against you (Matthew 12:41) in judgement. Therefore, act now before it will be too late.  

Food for Thought: The conscience of a sinner will concur with the sentence of Christ on Judgement Day. Will your conscience condemn or commend you?

Memory verse: John 12:48

Prayer: Lord in your mercy grant that I will no longer undermine your word. Help me to be a doer of your word and not hearer alone in Jesus name.