Awake From Sleep: Devotion for Friday October 9, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday October 9, 2020

Topic: Awake From Sleep                               

Text: Ephesians 5:12 – 20                         

As Christians, we should stand for the truth; we shouldn’t get caught up in gossip about the shameful actions of sinful people (Ephesians 5:12). We should not promote or dignify sin by even so much as discussing it. What the ungodly people do in secret becomes clear for how evil it is as light shines on them. Nothing can hide from the light piercing through darkness. Believers are the “rays” of that light. By our actions (Ephesians 5:8 – 12), we become instruments of light, exposing the dark acts of sin.

Apostle Paul instructs us to expose these deeds, because our silence may be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will take a stand for what is right. Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and right. This is not optional.

It is for this reason the Apostle calls on compromising Christians to wake up from sleep (Ephesians 5:14) and begin to live for Christ. What Paul was stressing here is that the Ephesians should wake up and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping into. Are such things not seen in our present day Christendom where we pretend and are nonchalant to our call to rebuke evil and sin? Are we not unperturbed and senseless in the darkness, and pollution of sin, and sometimes rename sin so as to cover our unrighteousness?

We should wake from death in sin to a sense of our guilty, lost condition, and look to Him who died for us, and He will make us light. We should redeem the time we have lost while asleep by being active for God. God is waiting for you to act. Start now (Isaiah 60:1)!   

Food for Thought: Romans 13:11 & 12

Memory verse: Ephesians 5 v 14

Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast way the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility so that on the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty: to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever (Collect for Advent Sunday). 

God Chose You For A Purpose

Devotion for Saturday March 24, 2018

Topic: God Chose You For A Purpose

Text: Ephesians 1: 3 – 6 

When we have spiritual and heavenly blessings, we cannot be miserable, and when we don’t have them, we will be so miserable. Paul told the Ephesians that the consequence of their election in Christ is that they should be made holy by separating from sin, being set apart to God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, which is the reason God chose us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world.

He used the phrase “God chose us” to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God. We are not saved because we deserve it but because God is gracious and He freely gives salvation to as many as come to Him in true repentance. We did not influence God’s decision to save us; He saved us according to His plan. Thus, there is no way to take credit for our salvation or to allow room for pride. God chose us, and when we belong to Him through Jesus Christ, God looks at us as if we had never sinned. All we can do about our salvation is to express our thanks for His wonderful love for us.

Have you ever wondered why God chose you as Christian despite your past and family background? Have you ever wondered why you are in that position where you are today? It is not just your hard work but by His love and grace for you. Therefore, you have to be grateful that God chose you and favoured you just because He loves you. We should reciprocate His love for us by loving, worshipping and serving Him and humanity in thankfulness for such a privileged status.

Sing A&M 193; SS&S 227; Abu 182  

Food for Thought: Are you living out the reason God choose you?

Memory verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:7

Prayer: God, as you have chosen me, may I live a life of gratitude in love and holiness in Jesus name.

AWAKE FROM SLEEP: Devotion for Tuesday August 30, 2016

AWAKE FROM SLEEP: Devotion for Tuesday August 30, 2016

Text: Ephesians 5:12 – 20       Memory verse: Ephesians 5:14

Paul teaches us here that as Christians, we should stand for the truth and we shouldn’t get caught up in gossip about the shameful actions of sinful people (Ephesians 5:12). The need for Christians to stand up for the truth cannot be overemphasized. This is so because it is the truth that will set us free. Jesus Christ asserted that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (see John 14:6).  

Paul cautioned us that we should not promote or dignify sin by even so much as discussing it. This is very important aspect of our bible reading today. Discussing sin defiles us how much more committing it. The reason for this is because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Nothing can hide from the light piercing through darkness. The believers’ behaviour and character are the ‘rays’ of that light that shines to reveal the darkness surrounding unbelievers. By our actions (5:8–12), we become instruments of light, exposing the dark acts of sin. Paul instructs us to expose these deeds, because our silence may be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will take a stand for what is right. Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and right.

It is for this reason the Apostle calls on compromising Christians to wake up from sleep (5:14) and begin to live for Christ. What Paul was stressing here is that the Ephesians should wake up and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping into through condoning sin and inability to speak out against it. Are these things not seen in our present day Christendom? Are we not unperturbed and senseless in the darkness, and pollution of sin? We should wake from death in sin to a sense of our guilty, lost condition, and look to Him who died for us, and He will make us light. We should redeem the time we have lost while asleep by being active for God. God is waiting for you to act. Start now (Isaiah 60:1)   

Food for Thought: Romans 13:11 & 12

Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast way the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility so that on the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Advent Sunday).

Without Christ: Devotion for Wednesday July 6, 2016

WITHOUT CHRIST: Devotion for Wednesday July 6, 2016

Text: Ephesians 2:11 – 13        

Memory Verse: v 12 - That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

A life without Christ is miserable. Indeed, such life is dead while alive. That is the worst life someone can think of. This was our case before Christ came and died for us. Jews considered all non-Jews (Gentiles) ceremonially unclean. They thought of themselves as pure and clean because of their national heritage and religious ceremonies. This was a false conception and deceit; a consolation which blinded their eyes to the mysteries of God. This was one reason Christ was rebuking them of their false claims and hypocrisy.

Here, Apostle Paul pointed out that Jews and Gentiles alike were unclean before God and needed to be cleansed by Christ. In order to realize how great a gift of salvation is, we need to remember our former natural, unclean condition. This is what Paul posited in Ephesians 2:11, 12. See Romans 3:9, 23.

As Gentiles, we were living without any of the hopes and consolations which we now have, from having embraced Christ. Apostle Paul raised this issue to remind the Church at Ephesus and we by extension, of the deplorable condition in which we were by nature; and nothing would better express it than to say we were "without Christ," or that we had no knowledge of a Saviour. Therefore we shouldn’t allow this privilege to slip off our hands. On the other hand, have you ever felt separate, excommunicated, excluded, and hopeless? Don’t despair. These verses are for you. No one is alienated from Christ’s love or from the body of believers. If you have Christ, that is enough for you because He can do what no man can do for you. You are Christ own forever!

Food for Thought: Ephesians 4:17–19   

Prayer: God, you have shown me your love through Christ Jesus. Help me never to live a life without Christ henceforth in Jesus name. 

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GROW UP: Devotion for Tuesday December 8, 2015

GROW UP      Tuesday December 8, 2015

Text: Ephesians 4:11 – 16    Memory verse: v 15

We ended our devotion yesterday with the admonition to grow up which is our topic for today. This is necessary because it is expected that at a point, a child should grow. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to take advantage of the gifts God has bestowed on them (4:11, 12) aimed at “The unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This will make them not to behave like babes without proper understanding rather they will grow up.

This admonition is good for Christians of today. Many Christians are still tossed, to and fro. They don’t know what salvation is all about. Today they believe this and tomorrow, they throw it aside. As Christians, we must be committed to the truth. Our words should be honest and our actions should reflect Christ’s integrity. Speaking the truth in love is not always easy, convenient, or pleasant, but it is necessary if we will do Christ’s work effectively. Stand by and for the truth now and always.

Food for Thought: Truth, honesty and integrity are essentials for spiritual growth.

Prayer: Lord, grant to me these essentials for growth in Jesus name.

WHO HAS BLESSED US: Devotion for Thursday October 1, 2015

WHO HAS BLESSED US       Thursday October 1, 2015

Text: Ephesians 1:3 – 6          Memory verse: v 3

We wish Nigerians at home and in Diaspora a Happy Independence Celebrations. Indeed we are a blessed people even before the nation Nigeria came into being just as our bible reading says. Spiritual and heavenly blessings are the best blessings; with which we cannot be miserable, and without which we cannot but be so. This was the design of God for us as Paul tells the Ephesians before the foundation of the world, that they should be made holy by separation from sin, being set apart to God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, in consequence of their election in Christ. This was the condition for their continuous blessings from God.

Unfortunately it is not so with us. Thus our conditions are worse than that of the wicked because we have sold ourselves to the devil. We now suffer amidst plenty and the blessings of God have been hijacked by very few sons of Ishmael. That we are blessed is not in doubt. We should therefore return to God is true repentance as that is the only way to retrieve the blessings that have been hijacked. Remember that we should be the praise of God’s glory in this Land (1:11, 12). Let us rise again and make Nigeria great.

Food for Thought: Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).

Prayer: Heal our land, O Lord and make us great again in Jesus name.

WHO AM I? Devotion for Saturday August 8, 2015

WHO AM I?     Saturday August 8, 2015

Text: Ephesians 3:8 – 12              Memory verse: v 8

When God exalts a humble heart to a great position, such is never proud of that position and where God gives grace to be humble; there He gives all other needful grace. Paul is of the opinion that he is not worthy of the trust granted to him as he deems himself. He was ever humbled by remembering that he had been a persecutor. His words in 3:8 strongly mark the unparalleled humility of Paul; and the amazing condescension of God, in favouring him, who had been before a persecutor and blasphemer. By describing himself as ‘Who am less than the least of all the saints,’ Paul means that being once a persecutor of the church, he would never be able to do God’s work without God’s help. Yet God chose him to share the Good News with the Gentiles and gave him the power to do it.

This shows the kind of humility of Paul as a person. He never allowed his exalted position in Christianity to enter his head. Today, most of us are in positions we are not worthy to occupy if not for the grace of God. How humble are you in that position? You should use that position to glorify God in humility knowing that you are not worthy except for the grace of God. This is what pleases God.

Food for Thought: 1 Timothy 1:15

Prayer: Grant me O Lord a humble heart in any position I find myself.

A DIMINISHED LOVE        Friday   June 5, 2015

Text: Revelation 2:1 – 7            Memory verse: v 4

Love binds a man and woman together in marriage. When the commitment to that love is misplaced, failure in vows made, infidelity, quarrels, etc will set in. If such is not tackled immediately it is noticed, the marriage may end up in divorce. 

Jesus is married to the church. He paid the price with His blood with the expectation that the Church should be faithful, submissive, obedient and loyal to Him. He noticed that the Church at Ephesus had left their first love for Him and He cautioned them in a bid to draw them back to Himself to avoid divorce. They have not maintained the ardor and devotion of the love of their earlier history. Nothing but the fervent love of the Bride can satisfy the Bridegroom. Jesus cautioned them to note where they had fallen (2:5).

What is the level of your love for Christ? Is it the same as at the time you accepted him as your Lord and Saviour? Know that Jesus sees and knows everything about us. He knows those who are sincere in their walk with him. Therefore, search yourself now to know if your love for Him has diminished. You can easily know based on your commitment to His service, prayer and study life

Food for Thought: Before God can deliver us from our sins; we must free ourselves from deception.

Prayer: Lord, rekindle my love for you and help me to be faithful, obedient and loyal to my commitment to you in Jesus name.    

RICHES OF CHRIST

RICHES OF CHRIST                     Wednesday April 8, 2015

Text: Ephesians 3:8 – 12             Memory verse: v 8

By describing himself as the least deserving Christian ever, Paul meant that God’s favour alone had saved him, the one who had hated and persecuted all who followed Jesus. In the real sense according to human reasoning, nothing in him merited such favour if not for the riches of Christ’s mercies. God had chosen him and had saved him for the special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ Jesus. To Paul, preaching the gospel to the Gentiles was sharing ‘treasures’ which are unfathomable (Colossians 2:12 – 13).

God’s call, a humble recognition of God’s grace, and the blessing of God’s power are the prerequisite for getting involved in service for Christ. That is what He has called us to do in the universal priesthood. This is a way to appreciate the blessings, wealth and gifts we have obtained in Christ. You can become a beneficiary of these riches in Christ by repentance. Do it today.  

Food for Thought: Paul saw the amazing grace God showed him as part of the riches of Christ. What do you see as the riches of Christ?

Prayer: God, grant that by recognizing your work of salvation you did in my life, it will make me humane and more dedicated to your service.