They Are Gifts From God

Devotion for Tuesday November 21, 2017

Topic: They Are Gifts From God

Text: John 3:26 – 33

There is nothing we have that is not from God. He is the one that appoints our work and gives us all that we have. Some Jews steered up envy in the mind of the disciples of John the Baptist by telling them that Jesus was baptizing. They came to John, who was wise enough to correct this erroneous perception that no other person can baptize except him and also the envy and jealousy of his disciples. John the Baptist made effort to root out all prejudice against Christ out of their minds, which made him to show them a five-fold difference between Christ and himself (John 3:29 – 33).

There is no ministry we have today that God has not entrusted to us. He gives to all, their places and work as He sees best for us. John cautioned them not to be dissatisfied that a greater than himself has come, for this is what he foretold.

From the above, we should note that it is important every gospel minister should endeavour to magnify Jesus Christ; to display His Glorious Excellency and perfections before the people and not themselves. They should also revere His person, respect His authority and laws. This is the duty we owe God as Christians. That we are being used today doesn’t mean we are to arrogate the praise to ourselves and we start answering big names like Demon Bulldozer, Apostle of Fire, Miracle Worker, etc. We should be humble in whatever way God uses us and never to be envious of the way He uses others too.

Food for Thought: Envy and prejudice kill our gifts and make us unproductive.

Memory verse: James 1:17

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me the understanding that you appoint our work for us and help me not to envy another person or arrogate praise to myself for what you are using me to do in Jesus name.

They Grew Despite Affliction

Devotion for Friday September 20, 2017

Topic: They Grew Despite Affliction

Text: Exodus 1:8 – 12

Afflicting someone out of sheer jealousy and envy will only amount to blessing on the person being afflicted. We know the case of Joseph, Mordecai and many others in the scriptures. Times of affliction have often been the time the church grew as Christianity spread most when it was persecuted.

The King that does not know Joseph arose to become jealous of God’s blessings upon Israel and decided to punish them (Exodus 1:8 – 11). Unfortunately, the more he does that, the more God bless them and they grew in population. Do you afflict or punish a child of God because you are jealous of what God is doing in his or her life or what God has given to him/her? Repent today before God’s anger will descend on you. Despite the affliction and torture, the Israelites multiplied and grew because of God’s blessings (Exodus 1:12).

How can your enemies and those who afflict you become afraid of you? This can only become possible when you are in the will of God. Psalm 1:1 – 3 speak a blessed man. A blessed man has the favour, protection and backing of God. He prospers despite oppositions or afflictions. The level of your commitment to reading, meditation and application of God’s word to your life, will help you live the life that people will dread of just like the Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites. The choice to do or not to do is all yours.

Food for Thought: Matthew 5:10 – 12

Memory verse: Exodus 1:12

Prayer: Grant that my life will please you, O Lord, so that you will bless me to the extent  that my enemies will begin to dread me in Jesus name.

Don’t Look Down On People

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday February 11, 2017           

Topic: Don’t Look Down On People 

Text: 1 Samuel 17:22 – 30

Naturally, people envy those who do better and are more honoured than them. Some people criticise others due to their prejudice, hatred and bitterness. Some do it because they feel they are better of the other person.

Eliab look down on David as too small to be enlisted in the Israel’s army how much more confronting a renowned champion, Goliath. Eliab charges him with cockiness (being arrogant). This elicited criticism from Eliab. Eliab was the most outspoken of all the people in the camp against David because he was the senior brother. Of a truth, David was a small boy of about 15 years. Unfortunately, criticism couldn’t stop David. This confirms what the bible says in Matthew 10:36 (see Gen. 37:4, 8, and 11). While the rest of the army stood around wasting their time, David knew the importance of taking action. With God to fight for him, David had no reason to wait.

People may try to discourage you with negative comments or mockery, accusing you of arrogance or pride. Never mind them and their discouragement. Just continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most. At last the small boy, Eliab looked down on, became a hero who did what he and others in Israel’s army could not do.

Most times we look down on people because they are poor, uneducated, ugly, etc. Don’t forget that such person may later become great that you will need his or her help or service. Beloved, as people despise you, see it as a challenge and aim for greatness to shame them.   

Food for Thought: Who knows tomorrow?

Memory verse: Matthew 10:36

Prayer: May I not look down on people today, O Lord, my God, because I don’t know what tomorrow holds for them.

BLESSINGS ATTRACT ENVY: Devotion for Thursday September 8, 2016

BLESSINGS ATTRACT ENVY: Devotion for Thursday September 8, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:15 – 23          Memory verse: Genesis 26:16

God is ever faithful to the words He has spoken and He keeps them. He doesn’t make a promise without keeping to it. We have series of promises He made to His people which were fulfilled. Though some took a long time to come to pass, the long time in our eyes is not so with God.

He kept His promise to bless Isaac (Genesis 26:3) as Isaac was blessed (Genesis 26:13). The Bible stated that he started prospering until he became prosperous. The neighbouring Philistines grew jealous because everything Isaac did seemed to go right. The first step they took was to plug his wells and tried to get rid of him. By this they thought his blessings will cease. Being jealous is a very bad and it is a dividing force that can tear apart the closest friends. Life Application Notes says, “Jealousy forces you to separate yourself from what you were longing for in the first place. When you find yourself becoming jealous of others, try thanking God for their good fortune.”

The jealousy and envy of the Philistines against Isaac made him to relocate three times and on each occasion, he and his men dug new well. In the first two disputes that arose between Isaac and the Philistines, he moved on. He opted to avoid quarrel and troubles of the Philistines by moving to a more neutral ground. Here is a lesson and challenge for us Christians of this generation. Isaac moved on without challenging back for his rights which were denied him. He finally got to a place where there was room enough for him and the Philistines. Instead of Isaac resorting to start a huge conflict, he opted for give and take for the sake of peace between him and his landlords. We should be willing to forsake an important position or valuable possession to keep peace as those who bear the name of Christ.

Beloved, it shouldn’t be a surprise when your Landlord, your colleagues, your neighbours, etc, begins to envy you. Picking quarrels against them will be a mark of immaturity. With the blessing of God upon you, you are greater than them and will continue to excel above them. If someone is jealous of you, it means you have something he or she doesn’t have. Why then will you be offended? Know that the more they envy you, the more you will continue to prosper. It is my sincere desire that God will prosper you till you become prosperous in Jesus name. Amen        

Food for Thought: Exodus 1:9

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the wisdom to know when to withdraw and when to stand and fight when people are against me.

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 14           Memory verse: Genesis 26:12     

The instruction God gave Isaac in Genesis 26:2 & 3 was "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” Isaac obeyed God’s instruction and stayed in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). He didn’t just stay, waiting for fulfillment of God’s promise. In the interim, he sowed in the land where he was a stranger and God blessed him 100 times more than what he sowed. He was not waiting for the death of the Philistines to inherit their blessings. The blessing of God upon him attracted envy of his landlords, the Philistines (Genesis 26:7). They forced Isaac go out of their country. Wisdom and discretion teaches us to give up our right, and to draw back from contentions. That was what David did when Saul went after him. He ran to the Philistines.  If we are wrongfully driven out from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another. So it was in the case of Isaac.

We should understand that Isaac didn’t wait for God’s blessings as promised to start manifesting. He went ahead to do something for himself. It was what he was doing that God blessed and he prospered therein. God has promised to bless us. But we still have a part to play in bringing the promises to fulfillment. When God provided manna, He kept them outside and not inside the tent. He could have sent them into their tents but it wasn’t so because He wanted to teach them that they have a part to play in their blessings. Again it was to test their obedience. Isaac obeyed God and stayed in Gerar when God blessed him and he prospered. How obedient are you to God’s instructions?

Food for Thought: What and where can you sow so as to reap abundantly?

Prayer: As I sow, O Lord, may I reap in abundance in Jesus name. Grant that I will not reap into a leaking pocket in Jesus name.

We Have A Wonderful Future: Devotion for Thursday September 1, 2016

We Have A Wonderful Future: Devotion for Thursday September 1, 2016

Text: Proverbs 23:17, 18               Memory verse: Proverbs 13:18

Most times, it is easy to envy those who get ahead, unhampered by responsibility to God’s laws. These people do not care if God’s law exists. They can do anything to make ends meet or acquire wealth without thinking about the consequences that might follow. For a time they do seem to prosper without paying any attention to what God wants, but they have no future. Everything they have acquired is temporal and most unfortunate aspect of it is that they cannot take any of that wealth out of this earth.

Do not resent them because of the perceived liberty they take to sin at will or the success they have may have acquired in sin. Certainly, it will cost them dearly as they do not have future and they are to be pitied instead of being envied. Envying them means that we are not sure of the God we serve. Again, we should note that there is an end of all their prosperities and successes. They will not continue forever. They are limited and are vanity upon vanity. In the same manner, I wish to remind you that there will be an end of your afflictions, pain, sickness, poverty, humiliation, etc. Therefore, be not weary of the problems you are currently passing through, an end of your hard services, afflictions, pain, sickness, poverty, humiliation, warfare, etc, is at hand. Your will and desires will be accomplished. Therefore, we shouldn’t envy sinners. We have well known cases of their end in our neighbourhood. Can you recall any?

To those who follow God, He promises a hope and a wonderful future, even if they don’t realize it in this life. Perfect love casts out fear, and your expectation of the reward not only will not be cut off, or disappointed but it will certainly be done. The knowledge of our wonderful future will help to reconcile us to all the difficulties and discouragements of the way (Heb. 12:2). Don’t let the disappointment of last month spoil your joy of this new month. You have a wonderful future. Don’t give up. God hasn’t done with you. There is something special waiting for you in this new month. Happy new month!   

Food for Thought: The knowledge of our wonderful future will help to reconcile us to all the difficulties and discouragements of the way.

Prayer: Lord, grant me full understanding that I have a wonderful future which will guide my actions today and forever, in Jesus name.

CONTROLLED BY YOUR DESIRES? Devotion for Monday October 5, 2015

CONTROLLED BY YOUR DESIRES?            Monday October 5, 2015

                      

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:3                 Memory verse: v 3

Paul was obviously worried about the spiritual state of the Corinthian church. He did not mince words in saying they were carnal. His reasons are the issues of envy, strife, divisions among themselves. Though they were Christians, yet their divisions and strife show that they are yet, in some degree, under the influence of worldliness. Men who are governed solely by the principles of this world evince a spirit of strife, emulation, and contention. One would ask, where is the love for one another that Jesus gave as new commandment (see John 13:34)?

Envy, as the root, bears strife, and strife breeds divisions and factions. Envy is a pestilent lust; it makes another's good our grief. The devil rejoices at the destruction of sinners and sows seed of discord amongst Christians. Again, strife and contention, differences and divisions, are often found in the churches of Christ, and among particular Christians and that so far as these prevail in and among any, it evidences that they are carnal. Are these evidences in you? See Romans 6:21; 8:7, 13 and Galatians 6:8.

Food for Thought: A carnal man cannot please God nor get His blessings.

Prayer: Lord God, deliver me from every form of carnality in Jesus name.